






« 







Richard Hunt Sat Down on a Wayside Bench 

With Her 



THE 

CAMP FIRE GIRLS 
IN AFTER YEARS 


BY 

MARGARET VANDERCOOK 

Author of “The Ranch Girls Series,” etc. 


ILLUSTRATED 


PHILADELPHIA 

THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO. 


PUBLISHERS 


Copyright, 1915, by 
The John C. Winston Co. 


SEP 1 1 1915 


. 3 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PACK 

I. The Inaugural Ball ... 7 

II. New Names for Old Ac- 
quaintances 21 

III. Idle Suspicion 32 

IV. Ties From Other Days . . 44 

V. Something Unexpected . . 55 

VI. The First Disillusion . . 66 

VII. A New Interest 79 

VIII. “Bobbin” 91 

IX. Back in New Hampshire . 101 

X. Loneliness 110 

XI. A Meeting and an Expla- 
nation 120 

XII. The Way Home 132 

XIII. “A Little Rift Within the 

Lute” 140 

XIV. Suspicion 150 

XV. Waiting to Find Out. . . 160 

XVI. A Talk That Was Not an 

Explanation 172 

XVII. Christmas 180 

XVIII. The Stupidity op Men . . 191 

XIX. A Cry in the Night . . . 201 

XX. The Discovery 212 

XXI. Once More in Concord . 221 

XXII. Things Are Cleared Up . 230 
XXIII. Finis 244 


( 5 ) 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Richard Hunt Sat Down on 
A Wayside Bench With 
Her Frontispiece 

PAGE 

He Glanced Quickly About Him 

AND Then Disappeared 39 

Angel Had Caught Bettina^s Atti- 
tude Almost Exactly 167 

She Sprang Out of Bed Herself 
THE Next Moment 239 


( 6 ) 


The Camp Fire Girls in 
After Years 


CHAPTER I 

The Inaugural Ball 

F acing the hiUs, the great house 
had a wonderful view of the curving 
banks of a river. 

Half an hour before sunset a number 
of workmen hurried away across the 
grounds, while a little later from behind 
the closed blinds glowed hundreds of softly 
shaded electric lights. The lawns were 
strung with rows and rows of small lamps 
suspended from one giant tree to the 
next, but waiting for actual darkness to 
descend before shedding forth their illu- 
mination. 

Evidently preparations had been made 
on a splendid scale, both inside the house 
and out, for an entertainment of some 
( 7 ) 


8 


IN AFTER YEARS 


kind. Yet curiously there seemed to be 
a strange hush over everything, a sense 
of anxiety and suspense pervading the 
very atmosphere. Then, in odd contrast 
to the other lights, the room on the third 
floor to the left was in almost total dark- 
ness save for a single tiny flame no larger 
than a nurse^s covered candle. 

At about half-past six o^clock suddenly 
and with almost no noise the front door 
of the house opened. The next moment 
a slight form appeared upon the flight of 
broad steps and gazed down the avenue. 
From behind her came the mingled frag- 
rance of roses and violets, while before 
her arose the even more delicious tang of 
earth and grass and softly drifting autumn 
leaves of the late October evening. 

! Nevertheless neither the beauty of the 
evening nor its perfumes attracted the girhs 
attention, for her expression remained grave 
and frightened, and without appearing 
aware of it she sighed several times. 

Small and dark, with an extraordinary 
quantity of almost blue-black hair and a 
thin white face dominated by a pair of 
unhappy dark eyes, the girPs figure sug- 


THE INAUGURAL BALL 


9 


gested a child, although she was plainly 
older. In her hand she carried a cane 
upon which she leaned slightly. 

^Ht does seem too hard for this trouble 
to have come at this particular time,’^ she 
murmured in unconscious earnestness. 
only I could do something to help, yet 
there is absolutely nothing, of course, 
except to wait. StiU, I wish Faith would 
come home.’^ 

Then, after peering for another moment 
down the avenue of old elms and maple 
trees, she turned and went back into the 
house, closing the door behind her and 
moving almost noiselessly. 

For the present no one else was to be 
seen, at least in the front part of the big 
mansion, except the solitary figure of this 
young girl, who looked somewhat incon- 
gruous and out of place in her handsome 
surroundings. Notwithstanding, she seemed 
perfectly at [home and was plainly neither 
awed by nor unfamiliar with them. The 
hall was decorated with palms and ever- 
greens and festoons of vines, and adorning 
the high walls were portraits, most of them 
of men of stern countenance and of a past 


10 


IN AFTER YEARS 


generation, while here and there stood a 
marble bust. But without regarding any 
of these things with special attention the 
girl walked quickly past them and entered 
the drawing room on the right. Then at 
last her face brightened. 

Surely the room was beautiful enough 
to have attracted any one^s attention, 
although it was not exactly the kind of 
room one would see in a private house, 
for it happened to be in the Governor’s 
mansion in the state of New Flampshire. 

In preparation for the evening’s enter- 
tainment the furniture had been moved 
away except for a number of chairs and 
divans. The two tall marble mantels were 
banked v/ith roses and violets and baskets 
of roses swung from the two crystal 
chandeliers. 

With a murmured exclamation the girl 
dropped down on a low stool in the corner 
where the evergreens almost entirely con- 
cealed her and where she appeared more 
like an eK creature that had come into 
the house with the green things surround- 
ing her than an everyday girl. For a 
quarter of an hour she must have remained 


THE INAUGURAL BALL 11 


there alone, when she was aroused from 
her reverie by some one’s entrance. Then, 
although the girl did not move or speak, 
her whole face changed and the sullen, 
unhappy look disappeared, while oddly 
her eyes filled with tears. 

There could have been nothing fairer 
in the room than the woman who had 
just come quietly into it. She must have 
been about twenty-eight years old; her 
hair was a beautiful auburn, like sunshine 
on certain brown and red leaves in the 
woods in late October; her eyes were gray, 
and she was of little more than medium 
height, with slender hips, but a full throat 
and chest. At the present moment she 
was wearing a house gown of light blue 
cashmere, and although she looked as if 
life might always before have been kind 
to her, at present her face was pale and 
there were marks of sleeplessness about 
her eyes and mouth. 

Apparently trying to summon an inter- 
est in her surroundings which she scarcely 
felt, she glanced about the room imtil 
her eyes rested on the silent girl. 

^^Why, Angel, what are you doing in 


12 


IN, AFTER YEARS 


here alone, child? How lovely everything 
looks, and yet I am afraid I cannot come 
down to receive people tonight. All after- 
noon I have been trying to make up my 
mind to attempt it and each moment it 
seems more impossible.’’ 

I Then with a gesture indicating both 
fatigue and discouragement the woman 
sat dovm, folding her hands in her lap. 

^^But the^^baby isn’t any worse, I heard 
only half an hour ago,” the younger girl 
interrupted quickly, and in answer to a 
shake of the head from her companion 
went on: ^^You simply must be present 
tonight. Princess. This is the great- 
est night in your husband’s career and 
you know the Inaugural Ball would be 
an entire failure without you! Staying 
up-stairs won’t do little Tony any good. 
And think what it would mean to the 
Governor to have to manage all alone! 
You know you promised Anthony before 
his election that you would attend to the 
social side of his office for him, as he de- 
clared he didn’t know enough to under- 
take it. So you can’t desert him at the 
very beginning.” 


THE INAUGURAL BALL 13 


Swiftly Angelique Martins crossed the 
room and seated herseK on the arm of her 
friend’s chair. promise you on my 

honor that I shall sit just outside little 
Tony’s bedroom the entire evening and 
if he is even the tiniest bit worse I shall 
come down and tell you on the instant.” 

There was a moment of silence and then 
the newly elected Governor’s wife replied: 

suppose you are right, Angel, and I 
must try to do what you say, for nothing 
else is fair to Anthony. Yet I never 
dreamed of ever having to choose between 
my love and duty to my baby and my 
husband! But dear me, I am sure I have 
not the faintest idea how the Governor’s 
Lady should behave at her first reception, 
even if I have to make my debut in the 
character in the next few hours.” 

Then, in a lighter tone than she had yet 
used in their conversation, Betty Ash- 
ton, who was now Mrs. Governor Graham, 
smiled, placing her hand for a moment 
on that of her companion. 

For the friendship between Betty Ash- 
ton and the little French girl whom she 
had discovered at the hospital in Boston 


14 


IN AFTER YEARS 


had never wavered even after the Betty 
of the Camp Fire days had become Mrs. 
Anthony Graham, wife of the youngest 
governor ever elected to the highest office 
in his state. Moreover, Betty and Anthony 
now had two children of their own, the 
little Tony, a baby of about two years 
old, who was now dangerously ill on the 
top floor of the Governor’s mansion, and 
Bettina, who was six. 

Angelique Martins was almost like an 
adoring younger sister. She was approach- 
ing twenty; yet on account of her lame- 
ness and shyness she appeared much 
younger. But she was one of the odd 
girls who in some ways are like children 
and yet in others are older than people 
ever dream. After her mother’s death, 
several years before, she had come to live 
with Betty and Anthony and held a posi- 
tion as an assistant stenographer in the 
Governor’s office. Ordinarily she was 
strangely silent and reserved, so that no 
one, not even her best friend, entirely 
understood her. 

^^But you must not miss the ball tonight, 
Angel,” Betty now continued more cheer- 


THE INAUGURAL BALL 15 


fully. ^^You and Faith have been talking 
of it for weeks, and so I can’t have you 
sacrifice yourself for me. Besides, one of 
the nurses can do what you offered and 
send me a message if I am needed. Don’t 
you remember that your dress is even 
prettier than Faith’s? I was perfectly 
determined it should be.” And Betty 
smiled, amused at herself. She was always 
a little jealous for her protege of Faith 
Barton. It was true that since their first 
meeting at Sunrise Cabin the two girls 
had become close friends. But then Betty 
could seldom fail to see, just as she had 
in the beginning, the painful contrast be- 
tween them. Faith had grown into a 
beautiful girl and Dr. Barton and Rose 
were entirely devoted to her; and she 
had also both charm and talent, although 
still given to impossible dreams about 
people and things. 

Angel now shook her head. ^^You know 
you would feel safer with me to stand 
guard over Tony than if you had only 
one of the servants,” she argued a little 
resentfully. Then with her cheeks crim- 
soning: Besides, Princess, you know that 


16 


IN AFTER YEARS 


I perfectly loathe having to meet strangers. 
No one in the world except you could 
ever have induced me even to think of it. 
I am ever so much happier alone with you 
and the children or pegging away at my 
typewriter at the office. I believe people 
ought to remain where they belong in 
this world, and you canT possibly make 
me look hke Faith by dressing me up in 
pretty clothes. I should never conceive 
of being her rival in an3d;hing.’’ 

There was a curious note in the lame 
girks voice that passed unnoticed, for her 
companion suddenly inquired: ^^By the 
way, dear, do you know what has become 
of Faith? I passed her room and she was 
not there. I hope she is not out alone. 
I know she has a fashion of loving to go 
about in the twilight, dreaming her dreams 
and composing verse. Still, when she is 
here visiting me I would much rather she 
did not.” 

;^^But Faith isnT alone. _,She is with 
the Governor's secretary, Kenneth Helm,” 
Angel answered. ^^Mr. Helm came to the 
house with a message and Faith asked him 
to go out with her.” 


THE INAUGURAL BALL 17 


Betty smiled. Faith Barton scorned 
conventionalities and felt sure that she 
was above certain of them. ^^Oh, I did 
not know Kenneth and Faith had learned 
to know each other so well in two weeks’ 
time,” she replied carelessly, her attention 
wandering to the little Tony up-stairs. 
“However, Faith is all right if she is 
with Kenneth. I know Anthony has 
the greatest possible trust in him or he 
would never have selected him for his 
secretary in such troublesome political 
times as these. I don’t believe you seem 
to hke Kenneth as much as you once 
did. But you must not be prejudiced 
against so many people. He used to be 
very kind to you.” 

Without waiting for Angel’s reply Betty 
walked away. If she could have seen her 
expression she might have been surprised 
or annoyed. 

For sometimes Angel had wondered if it 
would be wise for her to take her friend 
into her confidence. Surely she had reasons 
for not being so sure of the Governor’s 
confidence in his secretary. But then 
what proof had she to offer against him? 


18 


IN AFTER YEARS 


Besides, people often considered her sus- 
picious and unfriendly. Moreover, in this 
case the French girl did not altogether 
trust herself. Was there not some per- 
sonal reason in her dislike? It was entirely 
true that she had not felt like this in the 
beginning of their acquaintance. 

With a feeling of irritation against her- 
self, Angel started to leave the drawing 
room. This was plainly no time for worry- 
ing over the future; she must go and have 
something to eat at once so as to be able 
to help watch the baby. There was only 
one regret the girl felt at her own decision. 
She was sorry not to see Betty receiving 
her guests at the Inaugural Ball tonight. 
For her friend remained her ideal of what 
a great lady should be in the best sense. 
Moreover, there would be other old friends 
whom she had once known at Sunrise 
Cabin. However, some of them were 
guests at the mansion, so she could meet 
them later. 

Out in the hall the little French girl 
now discovered Faith and Kenneth Hehn 
returning from their walk. The Governor's 
private secretary must have been about 


THE INAUGURAL BALL 19 


twenty-four or five years old. He was a 
Yale graduate and had light-brown hair 
and eyes of almost the same color. He 
had the shoulders of an athlete, a clear, 
bright complexion, and as Angel watched 
them she could not deny that he had a 
particularly charming smile. However, he 
was assuredly not looking at her. It was 
absurd to care, of course, yet nevertheless 
even the humblest person scarcely likes 
being wilfuUy ignored. And Angel was 
sure that the yoimg man had seen her, 
even though he gave no^^appearance of 
having done so. 

The next moment, after her companion’s 
departure. Faith Barton turned to her 
friend. Faith’s cheeks were delicately 
fiushed from her walk in the autumn air 
and her pale gold hair was blowing about 
her face. Her blue eyes were wide open 
and clear and she looked curiously innocent 
of any wrong or misfortune in the world. 
Surely there were seldom two girls offering 
a more complete contrast than the two 
who now tiptoed softly down the long 
hall together. 

am going to rest a little while,” Faith 


20 


IN AFTER YEARS 


said at parting. ^^But do let us try to 
have a long, quiet talk tomorrow. I want 
to tell you a secret that no one else in the 
world must know for the present.^^ 


CHAPTER II 


New Names for Old Acquaintances 
HERE was a shimmer of silver 



and blue on the stairs and then 


the man with his eyes upturned 
saw his wife moving toward him in a 
kind of cloud. 

The next moment with a laugh of min- 
gled embarrassment and pleasure Betty 
Graham put up her hand, covering her 
husband’s eyes. 

^^You must not look at me like that, 
Anthony, or you will make me abominably 
vain,” she whispered. '^Wait until the 
girls and the receiving party appear and 
then you will see what an ordinary person 
the new ^Governor’s Lady’ is and repent 
having raised humble Betty Ashton to 
such an exalted position.” 

Arm in arm the husband and wife now 
moved toward the drawing room. 

^^How little we ever dreamed of this 
grandeur, dear, in the days when I had 


( 21 ) 


22 


IN AFTER YEARS 


to work so hard to persuade you to marry 
me” 

''Perhaps if I had known I never 
should have dared/^ Betty went on, still 
half in earnest. "But I mean to do the 
best I can to help in our new position, 
although I must confess I am dreadfully 
frightened at having to receive so many 
distinguished people tonight. However, 
nurse says Tony is really better. And I 
shall have you to teU me what I ought 
to say and do.’^ 

Now under the taU crystal chandelier 
the young Governor lifted his wife’s hand 
to his lips vdth a smile at her absurdity. 
In spite of his ordinary origin Anthony 
Graham had a curious courtliness of man- 
ner. It was amusing to hear Betty talk- 
ing of being afraid of people. All her life 
she had had unusual social charm, winning 
friends and admiration in every circle of 
society almost from her babyhood. Nat- 
urally in the years since her marriage, 
during her husband’s struggle from the 
position of a successful young lawyer in 
a smaU town to the highest office in the 
state, both her charm and self-possession 
had increased. Indeed, it was well known 


NEW NAMES 


23 


that she had been her husband^s chief 
inspiration and aid, and there were many 
persons who declared that it had been the 
wife^s beauty and money that were respon- 
sible for the husband^s success. However, 
this remark was made by the Governor’s 
political enemies and not his friends and 
was of course untrue. 

Nevertheless Anthony did look somewhat 
boyish and insignificant tonight for his 
distinguished position. He was of only 
mediiun height, and although his shoulders 
were broad, he had never lost the thinness 
of his boyhood due to hardships and too 
severe study. Yet there was nothing weak 
or immature about his face with its deep- 
set hazel eyes, the high, grave forehead 
with the dark hair pushed carelessly back, 
and the firm, almost obstinate, set of his 
lips. 

Indeed, the young Governor already had 
gained a reputation for obstinacy, and once 
persuaded to a policy or an idea, was diffi- 
cult to change. This trait of character 
had been partly responsible for his elec- 
tion to office. For there had been serious 
graft and dishonesty in the politics of New 


24 


IN AFTER YEARS 


Hampshire, and led by Anthony Graham 
the younger men in the state had been 
able to defeat the old-time political ring. 
Whether or not the good government party 
would be allowed to remain in power 
depended largely on the new Governor. 
He had promised to stop the graft and 
crime in the state and to give positions to 
no persons who were not fitted for them. 
Of course this meant that he must have 
many enemies who would do their best 
to destroy his reputation. Already they 
were aware that the young Governor's 
one weakness was his devotion to his 
beautiful wife. 

But Betty used often to be amused at 
the outside world’s opinion of her hus- 
band’s character. For never once in their 
married hfe so far had he ever refused 
any request of hers. Therefore the real 
test was yet to come. 

Five minutes later and there was once 
more the sound of movement and laugh- 
ter on the stairway when the re-open- 
ing of the drawing room door admitted 
six persons, who were to form the first 
members of the receiving line. 


NEW NAMES 


25 


First came Doctor and Mrs. Richard 
Ashton. Already Dick had made a repu- 
tation for himself as a surgeon in Boston, 
while Esther was one of the plain girls 
who _ so frequently grow handsomer as 
they grow older. Her tallness and pallor 
with her abundant red hair and sweet 
yet reserved manner formed tonight as 
striking a contrast to her sister^s grace 
and animation as it had in the days when 
they first learned to know of the closeness 
of the tie between them. 

Mr. and Mrs. William Webster had 
come all the way from Woodford to Con- 
cord, leaving three babies at , home, to 
assist their old friends at the Inaugural 
Ball. You must have guessed that Mollie 
O^Neill, as Mrs. William Webster, would 
have grown plumper and prettier during 
the busy, happy years of married life with 
her husband and children on their large 
farm. For Mollie now had a small daughter 
Polly,’’ named for her beloved twin sister, 
and a pair of twin sons, Dan and Billy. 
She was more than ever in love with her 
husband and, many people believed, entirely 
under his thumb. Yet there were times 


26 


IN AFTER YEARS 


when Mollie could and would assert herself 
in a surprising fashion just as she had in 
former days with her girl friends. 

Tonight she was wearing a white silk 
which looked just the least bit countrified 
and yet was singularly becoming to MoUie’s 
milk-white skin, pink cheeks and shining 
black hair. Yet in spite of never having 
changed his occupation of farmer, there 
was little to suggest the countryside in 
Billy Webster^s appearance, except in his 
unusual strength and size. For he had 
fulfilled the prediction made to Polly 
O^Neill over a Camp Fire luncheon many 
years before. He had remained a farmer 
and a highly successful one and yet had 
seen a good deal of the world and under- 
stood many things besides farming. 

I Of the three Sunrise Hill Camp Fire 
girls who had within the last few moments 
joined Betty and her husband, the third 
was the most changed. For is it not diffi- 
cult to imagine Meg Everett transformed 
into^a fashionable society woman, Meg, 
whose hair never would stay neatly braided, 
whose waist and skirt so frequently failed 
to connect? 


NEW NAMES 


27 


However, after a number of love affairs, 
to her friends’ surprise Meg had married 
a man as unlike her in taste and disposi- 
tion as one could well imagine. He was 
a worldly, fashionable man, supposed to 
be wealthy. Anyhow, he and Meg lived 
in a handsome house, owned a motor car 
and entertained a great deal. They had 
no children, and perhaps this was the 
reason why Meg did not look altogether 
happy. Sometimes her old friends had 
wondered if there could be other reasons, 
for Meg had always been a warm-hearted, 
impetuous girl, careless of fashions and 
indifferent to conventions, and now she 
was always dressed in clothes of the latest 
design and at least appeared hke a fash- 
ionable woman. 

Nevertheless Meg had always been more 
easily influenced than any other of the 
Camp Fire girls, hating to oppose the 
wishes of any one near to her heart. Her 
husband, Jack Emmet, was an intimate 
friend of her adored brother John. He 
and Meg made an attractive couple, for 
although Mr. Emmet was not handsome, he 
was tall and had a slender, correct figure 


28 


IN AFTER YEARS 


and sharply cut features with light blue eyes 
and brown hair. Meg’s costume was quite 
as beautiful as Betty’s, a soft rose silk and 
chiffon, and her golden hair was fastened 
with a small rope of pearls. 

“You are as lovely tonight as ever, 
Betty, and I know Anthony is proud of 
you,” Meg whispered, holding her friend’s 
hand for an instant. “Remember when 
you once believed that Anthony was fall- 
ing in love with me? Silly child, he never 
thought of any one except you! But then 
he and I have always been special friends 
since he believed I helped him win you. 
I want to tell him how proud I feel of you 
both tonight.” 

As Meg moved away, MoUie’s plump 
arm, which was only partly concealed by 
her glove, slipped inside her hostess’s. 

“It is nice we can have a few moments 
to ourselves before the baU begins,” she 
remarked shyly, glancing toward her hus- 
band, who was for the moment talking 
with Jack Emmet. The two men did not 
like each other, but had been forced into 
conversation by Meg’s moving off with 
Anthony. 


NEW NAMES 


29 


Betty kissed her friend, quite forgetting 
the dignity of her position on the present 
occasion. 

^^Dear old MoUie, it is good of you 
to have come to help me tonight! I 
know you don’t like this society busi- 
ness. How I wish we had PoUy here 
with us! She promised to come if pos- 
sible, but I had a telegram from her only 
this afternoon saying that she is almost 
on the other side of the continent. It 
was dated Denver, I believe.” 

The same look of affectionate incompre- 
hension which she had often directed toward 
Polly, again crossed Mollie Webster’s pretty 
face. 

^Ht is just as impossible as ever to keep 
up with PoUy,” she explained half com- 
plainingly. ^^She has been acting through 
the West all summer, but promised to come 
home for a visit this autumn. Now she 
writes she won’t be here for some time. 
Dear me, I do wish that Polly would marry 
and settle down. Of course I know it is 
wonderful for her to have become such 
a distinguished actress, but I never think 
she is very happy and I am always worry- 
ing over her.” 


30 


IN AFTER YEARS 


Betty laughed and then looked serious. 
^ToUy never will settle down, as you 
mean it, MoUie dear, even if she should 
marry,’’ she argued, forgetting for the 
moment the other friends close about her 
and the evening’s ordeal. For her thoughts 
had traveled away to Polly O’Neill, who 
was to her surprise still Polly O’Neill. 
For at one time she had certainly believed 
that Polly had intended marrying Richard 
Hunt, the actor, and just why their engage- 
ment had been broken no one had ever 
been told. Possibly it was because Polly 
had wished to devote herself entirely to 
her work. She had always said as a girl 
that marriage should never be allowed to 
interfere with her career, and certainly 
it had not. For the Polly who had made 
her first success some ten years before in 
the little Irish play was now one of the 
best known actresses in the United States. 
Indeed, she had succeeded to the position 
once held by Margaret Adams, since Mar- 
garet Adams had married and retired. 

However, for the present there was no 
further opportunity for mutual confidences, 
since in the interval Faith Barton had 


NEW NAMES 


31 


appeared and with her the Governor’s new 
secretary, besides a dozen other persons, 
most of them political friends, who were 
to assist in opening the Inaugural Ball. 

As Anthony joined her, Betty felt her 
cheeks flush and her knees tremble for an 
instant. Moving toward them, accom- 
panied by his wife, was the man whom 
Anthony had defeated in the election for 
Governor. To save her life Betty could 
not help recalling at this instant all the 
hateful things this man had previously 
said against her husband. Yet she must 
not be childish, nor show ill feeling. Ex- 
Governor Peyton and his wife were much 
older than she and Anthony, and besides 
they were their guests. 

Betty’s manner was perfectly gracious 
and collected by the time the visitors 
reached them. 


CHAPTER III 


Idle Suspicion 

S HE had sat huddled up in a chair 
outside the baby’s room for several 
hours. Her self-sacrifice had been 
entirely unnecessary, as half a dozen per- 
sons had assured her, but Angel was by 
no means certain that she was not happier 
in her present position than if she had 
been down-stairs in the crowded ball- 
room unnoticed and perhaps in the way 
of the few people who would try to be 
kind to her. 

Two or three times she had stolen in 
to look at Tony. He was sleeping quietly 
and peacefully, a big beautiful baby with 
Betty’s soft auburn hair and Anthony’s 
hazel eyes. But now a clock somewhere 
was striking twelve and Angel decided 
that she must have a look at the guests 
before they went away. She had put on 
the white frock of soft chiffon and lace 
that Betty had given her, but somehow 

( 32 ) 


IDLE SUSPICION 


33 


it only made her look more childish 
and insignificant. Her face was pale 
now with weariness and her hair and 
eyes seemed so dark in comparison as 
to give her a kind of uncanny appear- 
ance. Perhaps waiting to gain more cour- 
age and perhaps for other reasons, imme- 
diately after leaving the nursery Angel, 
before starting down-stairs, went into an- 
other big room at the end of the haU. 

As the girl leaned over to gaze at a little 
sleeper a small hand reached up and touched 
her face. It was that of Bettina, the 
little Princess’^ as everybody called her. 
Nevertheless Bettina was not in the least 
like her mother. She had long hair that 
was gold in some lights and in others a 
pale brown, and her eyes were bluer than 
gray. Indeed, PoUy had once said of her 
two or three years before, that Tina^s eyes 
had no color like other people’s, for they 
merely reflected the lights above them like 
a clear pool. The little girl was slender and 
quiet and many persons believed her shy, 
which was not altogether true. Possibly 
the oddest of her characteristics was her 
ability to understand what other people 


34 


IN AFTER YEARS 


were thinking and feeling without being 
told. 

Now she whispered: “Why don’t you 
just find a place where you can see, Angel, 
without any one’s seeing you? I shall 
want you to teU me everything tomorrow. 
Mother won’t understand in the way I 
mean.” 

Of course that was just what she should 
have been doing for these past two hours, 
Angelique thought to herself as soon after 
she slipped away. But it was like Bettina 
to have suggested it. Already she knew 
the exact place where she might have 
been in hiding all this time. 

On the second floor toward the rear of 
the house there was a kind of square land- 
ing which faced a small room that was 
oddly separated from the other apartments. 
For this reason the Governor had chosen 
it for his private study. Only one servant 
was allowed to enter this room and very 
rarely any member of the family. For in 
it were kept a number of important let- 
ters and papers. 

But concealing the entrance tonight were 
a number of palms and other taU plants, 


IDLE SUSPICION 


35 


and by placing a small camp chair behind 
them one could see through the railing 
of the balustrade down into the big hall. 
The music was there and many beautifully 
dressed [people were walking up and 
down. 

The little French girl stared for ten 
minutes without moving. She had a 
curious, almost passionate love of beauti- 
ful people and things, inherited from some 
far-off French ancestor, who may have 
been a great artist or perchance only car- 
ried a great artistes longings in his soul. 
Indeed, Angel had real talent of her own 
and whatever her hands touched she 
could make lovely, whether it was de- 
signing a dress, decorating a room or even 
making a sketch of a scene or a flower, 
anything that had appealed to her imagi- 
nation. Through her Camp Fire train- 
ing she had learned to make remarkable 
use of her hands, especially in the days before 
she was able to leave her wheeled chair. 
Indeed, Betty and all of her friends had 
been disappointed when she had failed to 
foUow some artistic profession. Betty 
had urged and pleaded with her to become 


36 


IN AFTER YEARS 


an artist or designer and had offered to 
pay her expenses, yet as soon as she was 
well enough Angel had Insisted upon study- 
ing something through which she could 
at once make her living. By this time 
the little French girl had been brought 
too close to life’s realities not to under- 
stand its difficulties. To make her living 
as an artist or a designer would take years 
and years of study and work before she 
could hope to succeed. Besides, Betty, 
in spite of Judge Maynard’s legacy, was 
not so rich as she was generous and there 
were always other people to be thought of. 
For the Princess had never ceased her 
generosities, and even if her husband had 
become a distinguished man it would be 
difficult for him ever to be a rich one 
unless something unforeseen happened. 
Therefore Angel had been happy enough 
with her stenography and typewriting and 
with her new position in the Governor’s 
office. For in her heart of hearts it was 
her philosophy that duty could be done 
every day and beauty kept for certain 
exquisite moments. 

Now, however, she felt that one of 


IDLE SUSPICION 


37 


these perfect moments had come. Only 
she wished that Betty or some one whom 
she knew might appear within her range 
of vision. It was entertaining, of course, 
to watch the strangers and to decide whose 
clothes were prettiest and guess their 
names. 

Angel drew her chair farther away from 
the landing so she could peep squarely 
through the banisters and was now some 
distance from the study door. Moreover, 
the following moment she had caught a 
glimpse of a friend whom she had wished 
to see almost as much as Betty. There 
stood a taU girl with pale gold hair, wear- 
ing a frock of white and blue, and talking 
to a young man in as absorbed a fashion as 
if they had been entirely alone. It was 
difficult to see her companion and yet the 
French girl felt that she might have guessed 
before she finally discovered him. For 
Faith's face wore the same rapt, excited 
expression it had worn that afternoon on 
returning from her walk. What could it 
mean? Angel pondered. Surely Faith 
and Kenneth Helm did not yet know 
each other well enough for Faith's secret 


38 


IN AFTER YEARS 


to have anything to do with him. Their 
acquaintance had started only about ten 
days before. 

Surely in her absorbed interest Angelique 
had no thought of spring on her friend, 
for two people could not be seriously con- 
fidential when hundreds of others were 
close about them. Nevertheless the watcher 
felt her own cheeks flush guiltily as she 
saw the young man below her whispering 
something in his companion's ear. The 
next instant, however, Faith had left the 
haU with some one else. Then to her 
intense consternation Angel observed Ken- 
neth Helm coming alone straight up the 
broad stairs. Could it be possible that 
either one of them had seen her and 
that Faith was sending Kenneth to bring 
her down to the ballroom? With all 
her heart Angel hoped not. She would 
like to have gotten up and run away to 
shelter, yet knew it was impossible for her 
to move without making a noise. By 
remaining silent there was just a chance 
that Kenneth Helm was on his way to 
the men^s dressing room and would not 
notice her. Moreover, if Faith had not 



He Glanced Quickly About Him and Then 
Disappeared 


40 


IN AFTER YEARS 


sent him to find her probably he would 
not even speak to her. 

It was quite true that the girl in hiding 
need have felt no concern. The young 
man certainly did not see her, nor did he 
pass her by. For some odd reason he 
stopped for a moment at the top of the 
landing, glanced quickly about him and 
then disappeared inside the Govemor^s 
private study, opening the door with a 
key which must have been given him for 
the especial purpose. 

^^What could Kenneth wish in there 
tonight?^’ Angelique wondered idly, some- 
what relieved because his errand plainly 
had nothing to do with her. Moreover, 
there was too much that was absorbing 
below stairs to give a great deal of thought 
to anything else just at present. 

The next instant Angel started, utter- 
ing a little gasp of anger and dismay, as 
a hand was laid rudely upon her shoulder. 

^^Whom are you spying upon now, ^ Angel 
in the House?^ the young man^s voice 
asked mockingly. ''DonT you think that 
perhaps you are rather an uncanny person 
anyhow?^’ 


IDLE SUSPICION 


41 


The girl flushed and found it impossible 
to keep her lips from trembling. When 
she had first gone to work in Anthony 
Graham^s ofiice, Kenneth Helm had also 
been employed there and had been un- 
usually kind to her. Recently, however, 
he seemed to have avoided and almost 
to have disliked her. This she knew had 
caused a change in her own attitude, 
so perhaps her prejudice against the young 
man’s position as the Governor’s private 
secretary was largely due to this. Never- 
theless she had done nothing to deserve 
the change in his treatment of her, and 
if a human being is disloyal to one 
friendship, why not to another? 

However, at the present moment the 
girl only wished to be left alone, so she 
merely shook her head, explaining: “I 
didn’t mean to be spying upon any one, 
and I am sorry if you think I am uncanny.” 
Then she glanced pathetically down toward 
the cane at her side, and this time her 
companion blushed. 

^^Oh, I did not mean that. Miss Martins. 
That is not fair of you,” he remonstrated. 
^^But please don’t mention to the Governor 


42 


IN AFTER YEARS 


or any one that you saw me go into his 
private study tonight, will you? You see, 
I had forgotten something that I ought 
to have attended to at the office. My 
memory is not so good as yours. WonT 
you let me take you down-stairs?’’ 

The lame girl rose slowly, not knowing 
exactly how to refuse the young man’s 
offer. Besides, she remembered what Betty 
had said to her. She must not be so sus- 
picious and prejudiced against people.” 

Certainly I won’t speak to Mr. Graham 
of your having gone into his office. Why 
should I?” she conceded, laying her hand 
lightly on her companion’s arm. Besides, 
do you think I talk to the Governor 
about his affairs just because I live in his 
house? He is so quiet and stern I am 
dreadfully afraid of him. It is Betty, 
Mrs. Graham, who is my friend. If it is 
not too much trouble to you and she is 
not too busy I would like to have you 
take me to her now for a little while. 
Never in my life have I seen anything so 
splendid as this reception tonight!” 

When the little French girl talked she 
was not half so homely and unattractive. 


IDLE SUSPICION 


43 


Kenneth Helm decided as he made his 
way with her through the crowd. More- 
over, he must not turn her into an enemy, 
for assuredly Mrs. Graham was her devoted 
friend and what his wife desired was law 
with the Governor. 

Kenneth Helm intended to succeed in 
life. This was the keynote of his char- 
acter. He wanted money and power and 
meant to do anything necessary to attain 
them. 


CHAPTER IV 


Ties fbom Other Days 

O NE morning, a few days later, Mrs. 
Jack Emmet was ushered into 
Betty^s personal sitting room. 
Eotty was writing notes and Bettina was 
curled up in a big chair near the window 
with a book of fairy tales in her lap. 

Both of them rose at once, Betty 
kissing her friend ajEfectionately. But her 
little girl, who showed her affection dif- 
ferently from other children, sitting down 
by Meg^s side, slipped her small hand inside 
hers. 

Meg was beautifully dressed in a dark 
blue broadcloth and black fox furs with a 
velvet hat and small black feather curled 
close against her light hair. Yet the hat 
was the least bit awry, one lock of hair 
had come uncurled and been blown about 
by the wind, and a single blue button hung 
loose on the stylish coat. Noticing these 
absurd details for some reason or other, 
( 44 ) 


TIES FROM OTHER DAYS 45 


Betty felt oddly pleased. For they 
brought back the Meg of old days, whom 
not all the strenuous years of Camp Fire 
training had been able to make as neat 
as she should have been, although since 
her marriage she seemed to have greatly 
changed. 

Therefore, in observing these unimpor- 
tant facts of her friend^s costume Betty 
failed to catch the difference in her 
expression. They began their conversation 
idly enough in discussing the ball of a few 
nights before, the Governor's health and 
just how busy he was and what people 
were saying of him in Concord. For, 
although Mr. and Mrs. Graham had only 
been installed in the Governor's mansion 
a few weeks, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Emmet 
had been living in Concord ever since 
their marriage about five years befcre. 

Nevertheless, if Betty had not observed 
the change in her friend, in some unaccount- 
able fashion Bettina had. Not that the 
little girl realized that Mrs. Emmet had 
dark circles under her eyes and that instead 
of gazing directly at her mother as she 
talked, her glance traveled restlessly about 


46 


IN AFTER YEARS 


the pretty room. Nor did Bettina know 
that Meg’s cheeks were not a natural pink, 
but flushed to uncomfortable redness; no, 
she only appreciated that ^'Aunt Meg,” 
for whom she cared a great deal, was uneasy 
and unhappy and would perhaps enjoy 
having her keep close beside her. 

^^You will stay and take lunch with us, 
won’t you, dear?” Betty urged, moving 
forward to assist her visitor in removing 
her wraps. ^^You see, we shall probably 
be all by ourselves. Anthony is too busy 
to come home, Angel is at the oflice and 
Faith asked to be left alone for the day. 
The child is probably scribbling away on 
some story she desires to write. Then after 
lunch we can see little Tony. The baby is 
well again, only the nurse wants him kept 
quiet.” 

Affectionately Betty placed her hands on 
Meg’s shoulders and standing directly be- 
side her now for the first time looked closely 
into her face. To her shocked surprise she 
discovered that xmexpected tears had started 
to Meg’s eyes. 

At once Betty Graham’s happy expres- 
sion clouded. For she v/as no less ready 


TIES FROM OTHER DAYS 47 

with her sympathy than in former days, 
and the Camp Fire girls of the old Sunrise 
Club seemed almost like real sisters. 

^^You came to teU me of something that 
is troubling you and I didn’t dream of it till 
this minute!” Betty exclaimed, slipping off 
Meg’s coat and unpinning her hat without 
waiting for permission. Then, pushing 
her friend down into a big, soft armchair, 
she took a lower one opposite. 

^Hsn’t it good fortune that we are living 
in the same place just as we used to long 
ago?” She continued talking, of course, 
to allow her companion to gain her self- 
control. Then she glanced toward Bettina, 
but Meg only drew the little girl closer, 
hiding her face for an instant in her soft' 
hair. 

^H’m absurd to be so nervous, Betty,” 
Meg whispered apologetically. Please 
don’t think there is anything serious the 
matter. Only — only I have come to ask 
you a favor and I don’t know exactly how 
to begin. Of course, we used to be very 
intimate friends and all that, but now you 
are the Governor’s wife, and — and ” 

Before she could finish a somewhat hurt 


48 


IN AFTER YEARS 


voice interposed. '^And — ^and — am Betty 
Ashton Graham still, very much at your 
service, Sweet Marjoram, as PoUy once 
named you. Dear me, Meg, donT be 
absurd. I canT say I feel particularly 
exalted by my position as wife of the new 
Governor, though of course I am frightfully 
vain of Anthony. Besides you know if there 
is anything I can do that you would like, 
I shall be happier than I can say.” With 
a laugh that stiU had something serious 
in it, Betty put her hand over her friend’s. 

still insist that I owe Anthony partly 
to you,” she ended. 

But this time Meg did not trouble to 
argue the absurd statement. 

She began talking at once as rapidly as 
possible, as if glad to get the subject off her 
mind. 

^^It’s about John, I came to talk to you, 
my brother, John Everett, Betty,” Meg 
explained. don’t know whether you 

have seen much of him lately, but you were 
devoted friends once and I thought perhaps 
for the sake of the past you might be in- 
terested.” 

'^John Everett? For the sake of the 


TIES FROM OTHER DAYS 49 


past I might be interested! Whatever are 
you talking about?’ ^ Betty was now frown- 
ing in her effort to understand and looked 
absurdly like a girl, with her level brows 
drawn near together and her lips pouting 
slightly. ^^Why, of course I am interested. 
I used to like John better than any of the 
other beaus we had, when we were girls, 
except Anthony. Tell me, is John going to 
be married at last? I have wondered why 
he has waited such a long time. But I sup- 
pose he wanted to be rich first. It has been 
about two years since we met by accident 
in a theater in New York, but I thought he 
had grown handsomer than ever.” This 
time Betty’s laugh was more teasing than 
sympathetic. “1 wonder why sisters are 
so jealous of their big brothers marrying, 
Mrs. Jack Emmet? You are married your- 
self — ^why begrudge John the good fortune? 
I don’t believe Nan has ever entirelyforgiven 
me for capturing Anthony. I am convinced 
she would have preferred any other of the 
Camp Fire girls. There is only one of us, 
however, whom she would have really liked, 
and that is Sylvia. Yet who would ever 
think of Doctor Sylvia Wharton’s marrying?” 


50 


IN AFTER YEARS 


This time Meg^s voice was firmer. ^^But 
John isnT going to be married, Betty. It 
is quite a different thing I wish to talk to 
you about. Instead of John’s getting rich 
on Wall Street, as you think, he has gotten 
dreadfully poor. And I am afraid it is not 
just his own money he has lost, but father’s 
savings. Now Horace will have to give 
up his college and I really don’t know what 
wiU become of father. He is too old to 
begin teaching again since his resignation 
several years ago.” 

Her voice broke, but then her friend’s 
face was so bewildered and so full of a 
sudden, ardent sympathy, that it was 
difficult for Meg to keep her self-control. 
However, she said nothing more for a 
minute, but sat biting her hps and wonder- 
ing how to go on to the next thing. 

Fortunately Betty helped her. ^‘1 expect 
John will have to come back home and 
take care of your father. Horace is too 
young and it is more John’s place than 
your husband’s. I am sorry, for I’m afraid 
things will seem pretty dull for him here 
after his gay life in New York.” 

All at once Betty’s face cleared a little 


TIES FROM OTHER DAYS 51 


and she leaned back in her chair. ^^But you 
remember, Meg, that when you first spoke 
you said you wished me to do you a favor. 
Is there anything in the world I can do? 
I am sure I can scarcely imagine wLat it is, 
yet if I can in any way help you out of this 
trouble 

You can,^^ Meg whispered shyly; ^Hhat 
is, perhaps not you, but Anthony, and you 
are almost the same person.” 

In answer to this rather surprising state- 
ment Betty Graham merely shook her head 
quietly. However, this was scarcely the 
time to argue whether or not marriage 
merged two persons into one or simply 
made each one bigger and more individual 
from association vdth the other. She 
wanted to do whatever was possible to 
assist Meg and John Everett too in this 
trying time in their affairs. Besides, as a 
little girl she had always been fond of old 
Professor Everett, whose life had been 
given to the wisdom of books rather than 
to the living world. But most of all, being 
a very natural woman, Betty was now 
keenly curious to know how she could 
possibly be expected to be involved in the 


52 


IN AFTER YEARS 


present situation and what she could do to 
help out. 

^^You are right. John does mean to 
come home, or at least he wishes to return. 
He says he is tired of New York and aU 
the fret and hurry and struggle of life there. 
But you see, Betty dear,^^ and Meg spoke 
quickly now that she had finally come to the 
point of her story, ^Hhere is no use John^s 
returning unless he has something to do. 
There is where you and Anthony can help. 
I didnT think of this myself, but when 
my husband and I were talking things over 
he said that Anthony and you and I were 
such old friends and that the new Governor 
had so many appointments he could make 
to all sorts of good positions. So we thought 
perhaps you would ask Anthony to help 
John. I know Anthony does anything 
you wish.’’ 

^^Oh!” Betty replied somewhat blankly. 
For never had she been more surprised 
than by Meg’s request. Of course she 
knew that Anthony was making a number 
of changes in positions held by people 
whom he thought unworthy of trust 
throughout the state. Often he talked 


TIES FROM OTHER DAYS 53 


about what he felt he should do, but really 
it had never dawned upon Betty until this 
minute that she or her friends could be in 
any way concerned. Still, why not? John 
was a good business man, Betty thought; he 
was not dishonest or dishonorable and the 
Everetts were her old friends. If Anthony 
could help them in their present trouble, 
surely he would be as glad as she was to 
have the opportunity. 

Yet Betty hesitated before answering. 
However, as she did not wish to make Meg 
uncomfortable she slipped from her own 
chair and put her arm sympathetically 
about her friend’s shoulders, while she 
endeavored to think things quietly over. 
Finally Betty returned: 

can’t exactly promise what you first 
asked, Meg dear. You see, I have always 
intended not to interfere in the things that 
did not seem altogether my affair. But 
somehow, since you have asked me and 
for John’s and your father’s sakes, who are 
such old friends, why I don’t feel as I did 
before. I teU you, I will ask Anthony this 
very night, so let’s don’t worry any more. 
Tina darling, run and tell the maids we 


54 


IN AFTER YEARS 


would like our luncheon up here. Our 
dining room is so absurdly big.’^ 

As she talked, as if by magic Betty^s 
expression had changed and again she was 
her usual gay, light-hearted self. Of course 
she and Anthony together would be able 
to clear away Meg^s troubles. Never 
before had she entirely realized how fine 
it was to have power and influence. 

Moreover, Betty’s confidence also inspired 
Meg, and for the first time in w^eeks Mrs. 
Jack Emmet felt like the Meg Everett of 
the old days in Woodford, who used to keep 
house for her father, kiss her small brother 
Horace’s (sumamed Bump’s) wounds and 
help and encourage her big brother John 
in all his ambitions and desires. 

Just as Meg went away, however, she 
insisted quite seriously: 

^^Betty, I often think that even if our 
old Camp Fire Club did nothing more for 
us than to bind our friendships together 
in the way it has, it would be dreadful for 
all girls not to have the same opportunities 
in their lives. Talk of college friendships, 
surely they are not to be compared with 
those of Camp Fire clubs!” 


CHAPTER V 


Something Unexpected 

D inner was tiresomely dull! Again 
Anthony did not return, but tele- 
phoned that he would be in as 
soon afterwards as possible. Several times 
during the meal Betty almost wished that 
she had accepted an invitation for the 
evening without him. For they had been 
invited to a dinner party and dance, but as 
Anthony had declared he would be too busy 
to attend, Betty had declined without any 
objection at the time. She had made up 
her mind never to go out into society unless 
accompanied by her husband. 

Nevertheless, tonight the young wife of 
the new Governor felt somewhat differently. 
If Anthony was going everlastingly to be 
kept at his office must she always sit alone 
during the evenings? Always as Betty 
Ashton she had loved people and gayety 
and still loved it quite as much as Betty 
Graham. Moreover, her only two com- 

( 55 ) 


56 


IN AFTER YEARS 


panions at dinner, Angel and Faith, were 
both in extremely bad humor and unwilling 
to confess the cause, for Faith looked sulky 
and annoyed and Angel undeniably cross. 
Of course, the two girls must recently have 
had a quarrel. Their hostess wondered 
for a few moments what the trouble could 
have been. But then they were so utterly 
different in their dispositions and tastes, 
it was not surprising that they sometimes 
disagreed. Besides, she decided that they 
were both unlike the intimate friends of her 
youth and far harder to understand. In 
fact, though she was scarcely much more 
than a girl herself, Mrs. Graham concluded 
that girls had changed since her day^' 
and determined as soon as dinner was over 
to leave them to themselves. Naturally, 
if they had wished her society Betty would 
have been glad enough to have remained 
and received their confidences. However, 
neither Angel nor Faith showed the slightest 
sign of desiring her society. 

In a pale blue silk dinner gown Betty 
wandered disconsolately about her big house 
waiting for her husband. He had promised 
to come home early and it seemed not 


SOMETHING UNEXPECTED 57 


worth while to settle down to any task 
beforehand. The babies were asleep and 
she did not feel like wTiting letters either 
to Esther or her mother. Several times 
she thought of Polly. But PoUy was so 
far away out West that she reaUy did not 
know where to find her at the present time. 
Betty wondered if her best friend was 
happy with no home or husband or children, 
nothing intimate in her life but her career 
as an artist. She had always been puzzled 
to understand why Polly and Richard Hunt 
had never married after an engagement 
lasting over several years. But since 
neither of them had cared to explain their 
separation, it was, of course, useless to 
conjecture again after all this time. 

The drawing room was too hopelessly 
big and formal! After Betty had walked 
around inside it for half an hour perhaps, 
sitting down in half a dozen chairs and 
then pacing up and down, she grew even 
more restless. Surely it was no longer early 
in the evening, and why did Anthony not 
keep his word and come home at the time 
he had promised? It would be ever so 
much more satisfactory to have her talk 


58 


IN AFTER YEARS 


with him in regard to giving John Everett 
a good position, with a comfortable salary, 
early in the evening, before they were both 
tired and wanting to sleep. 

Suddenly, with an impatient stamp of 
her foot, Mrs. Graham fled from her state 
apartment. She was homesick tonight for 
her old home in Woodford, where she and 
Anthony had lived ever since their marriage 
imtil his election as Governor, and where 
her mother still lived. 

Passing through the haU, more and more 
did Betty become convinced that Anthony 
was not keeping his word, for the tall clock 
registered quarter to ten. The upper part 
of the house looked dark and quiet as 
if the rest of the family had already gone 
to bed. Besides it was lonely enough on 
the first floor, for the servants had their 
sitting room and dining room in a big old- 
fashioned basement and were nowhere to 
be seen. Of course, one of them would 
come at once if she desired anything, but 
Betty could not think of anything she 
wished at present except society and amuse- 
ment. 

In the library back of the drawing room 


SOMETHING UNEXPECTED 59 


a few moments later she decided that things 
were not so bad. There was a little wood 
fire in the grate, kept there for its cheerful 
influence and not because the steam-heated 
house required it; but Betty had not been 
a Camp Fire girl for half her lifetime 
without responding to the cheerful influence 
of even a grate fire. 

Sinking dovm into a comfortable chair, 
she picked up a magazine and began read- 
ing. The clock in the hall ticked on and 
on and she was not conscious of the passing 
of time. The story was not particularly 
interesting — an absurd tale of a husband 
and wife who had quarreled. It was, of 
course, perfectly unnecessary for people 
who loved each other to quarrel, Betty 
Graham insisted to herself, and yet the 
writer did not seem convinced of this fact. 
Toward the close of the story she grew more 
interested and excited. 

Then, without actually hearing a sound 
or seeing a figure, Betty suddenly looked 
up, and there in the open doorway of the 
hbrary stood a strange man. Like a flash 
her mind worked. She was alone on the 
first floor of a big, rambling old house and 


60 


IN AFTER YEARS 


uncertain of how late the hour. Must she 
at once cry for help, or should she try to get 
across the floor and ring the bell furiously? — 
for that would be more certain to be heard. 
Yet for the moment her knees felt absurdly 
weak and her hands cold. However, with 
a stupendous effort Betty now summoned 
her courage, of which the shock of the mo- 
ment had robbed her. For her Camp Fire 
training had taught her the proper spirit 
in which to meet emergencies. Quietly 
Mrs. Graham rose up from her chair. 

^^What is it you wish? I think you have 
made some mistake,’’ she remarked stiflSy. 
For in spite of her terror the man in the 
doorway did not look like an ordinary 
thief. Besides, if he were a thief why did 
he remain there staring at her? Why had 
he not committed his burglary and gotten 
away with his spoils without alarming her? 

But he was now advancing a few steps 
toward her and there was no light in the 
library, except from the reading lamp. 

Anthony!” Betty cried instinctively, 
although she knew that the Governor could 
not be in the house at the time, else he 
would have come straight to her. 


SOMETHING UNEXPECTED 61 


Then to her immense amazement, almost 
to her stupefaction, the intruder actually 
smiled. 

^^Betty,’^ he answered, ^^or rather Mrs. 
Graham, have I startled you? Yes, I know 
it is dreadfully informal, my coming upon 
you in this fashion and not even allowing 
your butler to announce me. But I ran 
down from New York today to spend the 
night with Meg and Jack Emmet. A few 
moments ago we began talking of you. 
WeU, as IVe got to go back to town in the 
morning I decided that nothing would give 
me more pleasure than seeing the wife of 
our distinguished new Governor, so here 
I am!’’ 

Positively the stranger was holding out 
his hand. 

Moreover, the next instant Betty had 
laid her cold fingers inside it. 

^^John, John Everett, how ridiculous of 
me not to have recognized you! Yet, 
though I was thinking of you, you were the 
last person in the world I expected to see 
at present. And I confess you frightened 
me.” Betty made her visitor a little 
curtsey. Remember how you boys used 


62 


IN AFTER YEARS 


to try to terrify us when we were in camp 
just to prove the superiority of Boy Scouts 
over Camp Fire girls? I would not have 
been frightened then! But do let us have 
more light so that we can really see each 
. other/ ^ 

Betty touched the electric button and 
the room was suddenly aglow. 

Then she again faced her companion. 
It had been foolish of her not to have 
recognized her old friend, John Everett. 
He did look a good deal older, but he was 
a large, handsome man with blond hair, 
blue eyes and a charming manner. More- 
over, he was undoubtedly returning Betty’s 
glance with undisguised admiration. 

You won’t mind my saying it, will you, 
Mrs. Graham, but you are more stunning 
than ever. I suppose it soimds a little 
impertinent of me, but you know even 
though I always thought you tremendously 

pretty as a girl, really I never believed ” 

John began. 

Betty shook her head reproachfully and 
yet perhaps she was a little pleased, even 
though she recognized her visitor’s compli- 
ment as extravagant. 


SOMETHING UNEXPECTED 63 


Motioning to another chair, she then sat 
down in her former one. For a few moments 
there was a kind of constraint in the atmos- 
phere, such as one often feels in meeting 
again an old friend with whom one has 
been intimate in former years and not 
seen in a long time. 

Under her lashes Betty found herself 
studying her visitor's face. At first she 
did not think that he appeared much dis- 
couraged by his misfortunes, but the next 
moment she was not so sure. 

“I am awfuUy pleased the world has gone 
so well with you, Mrs. Graham,’’ John 
Everett began, to cover the awkwardness of 
the silence. ^^You were a wise girl to have 
known that Anthony had so much more in 
him than the rest of us fellows. I hear he 
is making things hum in the state of New 
Hampshire.” 

Betty looked a little shocked. ^^Oh, I 
did not care for Anthony because I thought 
him cleverer than other people. I — oh, 
does one ever know exactly why one cares? 
But do teU me about yourself, John. You 
don’t mind my knowing of your present 
difficulty? Meg has just told me, but 


64 


IN AFTER YEARS 


I am sure things wiU be all right soon 
again/’ 

HaK an hour later the young Governor, 
coming in very tired from his long day’s 
work, seeing the light burning in the 
library, walked quickly toward the door. 
He was worn out and hungry and wanted 
nothing so much as supper and quiet talk 
with his wdfe. For Anthony had never 
gotten over the pleasure he felt at returning 
home to find her there to receive him. 
Already it seemed ages since he had said 
good-bye at breakfast. 

However, just before he arrived at the 
open door he heard the sound of Betty’s 
laughter and some one answering her. 

Of course it was selfish and absurd of 
him to feel a sudden sense of disappoint- 
ment. He knew that he should have been 
glad to find Betty entertained. 

Before entering the library the new 
Governor managed to assume a more 
hospitable expression. He was also sur- 
prised at finding John Everett their caller. 
But then he too had known him in their 
boyhood days in Woodford and was glad 
to see him. Certainly they had never been 


SOMETHING, UNEXPECTED 65 


friends as boys. The young Governor 
could stiU remember that John had then 
seemed to have all the things he had wanted 
as a boy — good looks, good family, money 
enough for a college education. Yet with 
all these advantages John had not been able 
to win Betty. Now was Anthony^s chance 
to feel sorry for him. Lately he too had 
heard that John Everett was in some kind 
of business trouble. He hoped that this 
was not true. 

Therefore it was Anthony who insisted 
that their visitor should remain with them 
while they had a little supper party in the 
library. And Betty was glad to see that 
her old friend was making a good impression 
upon her husband. For she was now firmly 
determined to ask Anthony to give John 
Everett a fine position at once. 


CHAPTER VI 


The First Disillusion 

ii 'T^ UT you can’t mean, Anthony, 
1^ that you positively refuse to do 
what I ask?” 

It was a little after midnight and Betty 
and Anthony were up-stairs in their own 
apartment. Betty had on a blue dressing 
govm and her hair was braided and hung 
over her shoulders. But her cheeks were 
flushed, her gray eyes dark with temper 
and her voice trembled in spite of her effort 
to keep it still. 

Undeniably Anthony appeared both ob- 
stinate and worried. Moreover, he was 
extremely sleepy and yet somehow Betty 
must be made to understand before either 
of them could rest. Never before had he 
dreamed that she could be so unreasonable. 

“I don’t think that is exactly a fair way 
of stating the thing, Betty,” the yoxmg Gov- 
ernor answered gently enough. ^^You see, 
I have tried to explain to you, dear, that I 
( 66 ) 


THE FIRST DISILLUSION 67 


can’t give positions to friends just as though 
running the affairs of the state was my pri- 
vate business. I could afford to take risks 
with that if I wished, but you know I prom- 
ised when I was elected Governor only to 
make appointments of the best men I could 
find.” 

If possible, the Governor’s wife looked 
even more unconvinced. She was sitting 
in a big blue chair almost the color of her 
wrapper, and every now and then rocked 
back and forth to express her* emotion, or 
else tapped the floor mutinously with the 
toe of her bedroom slipper. 

^^You talk as if there was something 
wrong with John Everett,” she answered 
argumentatively, ^^and as if I were asking 
you to give a position to a man who was 
stupid or dishonest. I am perfectly sure 
John is none of these things. He has been 
unfortunate in business lately, of course, 
but that might happen to any one. ReaUy, 
Anthony, would you mind telling me ex- 
actly what you have in your mind against 
John Everett? Of course, I remember you 
never liked him when you were boys, but 
I thought you were too big a man ” 


68 


IN AFTER YEARS 


“See here, Betty, the Governor inter- 
rupted, “canT we let this subject drop? 
I never knew you to be like this before.” 
He had thrown himseK down on a couch, 
but now reached over and tried to take his 
wife^s reluctant hand. “IVe been explain- 
ing to you for the past hour that I have 
nothing in the world against John Everett 
personally, except that he has no training 
for the kind of work I need men to do. 
He has been a Wall Street broker. Well, 
that is all right, but what does he know 
about prison reform, about building good 
roads for the state, or anything else I’m 
after? Just because he is your friend — our 
friend, I mean — ^I can’t thrust him into a 
good job over the heads of better men. 
Please look at this as I do, Betty. I hate 
desperately to refuse your request and I 
know Meg will be hurt with me too and 
think I’m unfaithful to old times. Heigh- 
ho, I wonder if anybody thinks being 
Governor is a cheerful job? Good-night, 
Princess.” 

Plainly meaning to end their conversa- 
tion, Anthony had gotten up from his sofa. 
He now stood above Betty, waiting to have 


THE FIRST DISILLUSION 69 


her make peace with him. But Betty 
looked far from peaceful, more like a 
spoiled and angry little girl thwarted in a 
wish which she had not imagined could be 
refused. 

Of course the Princess had always been 
more or less spoiled aU her life. Her friends 
in the Camp Fire Club and her family had 
always acknowledged this. But she was 
usually reasonable with the sweetest pos- 
sible temper, so that no one reaUy minded. 
Nevertheless Betty was not accustomed to 
having her serious wishes denied, and by 
her husband of all people! 

Really she would have liked very much 
to cry with disappointment and vexation, 
except that she was much too proud. 
Moreover, even now she could not finally 
accept the idea that Anthony would not 
eventually do as she asked. 

But she drew back coldly from any idea 
of making friends until then. 

“Good-night,^’ she replied indifferently. 
“I don’t think I shall try to go to sleep.” 
Her voice trembled now in spite of all her 
efforts. 

“Really, Anthony, I don’t know how I 


70 


IN AFTER YEARS 


can tell Meg and John that you have de- 
clined to do what I have asked you. I 
wonder what they wiU think? Certainly 
that I havenT any influence with my own 
husband! Do you know, Anthony, per- 
haps I am wrong, but I thought I had 
helped you a little in your election. IVe 
made a good many sacrifices; you have 
to leave me alone a greater part of the 
time because you are too busy to spend 
much of your time with me. Well, I have 
never thought of complaining, but some- 
how it does seem to me that I have the 
right to have you do just this one thing I 
ask of you. I^m afraid I donT find being a 
Govemor^s wife so very cheerful either.” 

While she was talking Betty had also 
gotten up and v'^as now standing near the 
doorway. As her husband came toward 
her she moved slowly backward. 

say, Betty dear, you are hard on a 
fellow,” Anthony protested. ^^Of course 
I owe my job to you and anything else that 
is good about me. But you can’t want me 
to do wrong even for your sake. Maybe 
you may see things differently tomorrow.” 

However, instead of replying, the Gov- 


THE FIRST DISILLUSION 71 


emor’s wife slipped outside the room. In 
the nursery she lay down by Bettina. But 
she slept very little for the rest of the night. 

For in her opinion Anthony had not been 
fair; he had not even been kind. A few 
hours before, when she had assured John 
and Meg of her sympathy and aid, she 
could not have believed this possible. This 
was the first time in their married life that 
her husband had refused her anything of 
importance. Surely she had been wrong 
in suggesting or even thinking for half a 
second that his old boyish dislike and 
jealousy of John Everett could influence 
Anthony now! It was an absurd idea, and 
even a horrid one; and yet is one ever alto- 
gether fair in anger? 

Dowm-stairs, in spite of his fatigue, An- 
thony Graham walked up and down their 
big room for a quarter of an hour. If he 
only could have reconciled it with his con- 
science to do what Betty asked him, how 
much easier and how much more cheerful 
for both of them! She was right in saying 
that he owed something to her. He owed 
everything. It was not just that she had 
helped him since his marriage — ^most wives 


72 


IN AFTER YEARS 


do that for their husbands — ^but she had 
helped him from that first hour of their 
meeting in the woods so many years before. 

Nevertheless he had given his word to 
keep his faith as Governor of the state. 
He had promised to give no one a position 
because of pull and influence. Naturally 
he had not expected his wife to have any 
part in this, but only the politicians and 
seekers after graft. Yet even with Betty 
misunderstanding he must try to keep his 
word. 

Sighing, the young Governor turned out 
the lights. He did look too boyish and 
delicate for the weight of his responsibilities 
tonight. For there had been other troubles 
in his office which he had wished to confide 
to his wife, had she only been willing to 
listen. However, he finally fell asleep 
somewhat comforted. For he was convinced 
that Betty was too sensible a woman not 
finally to see things in the light that he did. 
When he had the opportunity and she was 
neither tired nor vexed with him he would 
explain to her all over again. 

An uncomfortable spirit, however, seemed 
to be brooding over the Governor’s man- 


THE FIRST DISILLUSION 73 


sion this evening, for in another part of 
the big house, there was another argument 
also lasting far into the^night. 

Angel and Faith sat on either side an 
old-fashioned four-poster bed, often talk- 
ing at the same time in the way that 
only feminine creatures can. 

In her white cashmere kimono over her 
gown, with her pale hair unbound, Faith 
Barton looked hke a little white saint. 
But alas, and in spite of her name, the little 
French girl bore no resemblance to one! 

AngeFs dark hair was extraordinarily 
heavy and curly but not very long, and 
now in her uneasiness she had pushed and 
pulled at it until it was extremely untidy. 
Moreover, her black eyes now and then 
flashed resentfully at her friend and two 
bright spots of color burned in her cheeks. 
When she was not talking her lips were 
pressed closely together. 

Faith, it isnT right of you; you know 
it isnT. You should not have made me 
promise to keep your secret before telling 
me it. How could I ever have guessed 
such a dreadful thing! I simply must, 
must tell Betty if you are not going to 


74 


IN AFTER YEARS 


confide in Mrs. Barton. Then Betty can 
do what she thinks best and it will be 
off my conscience.” 

Certainly Angelique Martins was not 
speaking in an amiable tone, and yet her 
companion seemed not in the slightest 
disturbed. 

Indeed, Faith began quietly brushing 
her long, straight hair. 

^^Don^t be a goose, Angel, and don’t 
have so much conscience for other people. 
Of course, I am sorry I told you. Kenneth 
said it would be wiser not to speak to 
any one for the present, but I had to have 
some confidant. Now you are trying to 
spoil my first real romance by wanting 
me to get up and proclaim it on the house- 
tops. What I like most about being 
engaged to Kenneth is that no one knows 
of it and that we can see each other with- 
out a lot of silly people staring and talking 
about us. Of course, when we begin to 
think about being married I shall tell 
Rose everything. Then I know she will 
understand. But we are not going to be 
married for a long, long time, I expect. 
Kenneth says that nothing would persuade 


THE FIRST DISILLUSION 75 


him to marry me until he could give me 
everything in the world I want. Oh, 
you need not look so superior, Angel; 
I understand you donT approve of that 
sentiment, but I think it is beautiful for 
a man to feel that way about a girl. 
You simply canT appreciate Kenneth.” 
And Faith looked sufficiently gentle and 
forgiving to have tried the patience of 
a saint. 

Perhaps not,” the other girl answered 
shortly. Anyhow, Faith, you are right 
in believing I donT approve of the things 
you have told me. The idea of your being 
secretly engaged to a man whom you have 
only known about two weeks! It is hor- 
rid! Naturally you don’t either of you 
know whether you are really in love; 
but then I don’t think you ought to be 
engaged until you are willing to tell people. 
Besides, what do you know about Mr. 
Helm’s real character. Faith? He is the 
kind of fellow who makes love to almost 
every girl he meets.” 

Almost under her breath and with her 
cheeks flaming the little lame French girl 
made this last speech. Nevertheless her 


76 


IN AFTER YEARS 


companion heard her. Still Faith did not 
appear angry as most girls would have 
been under the circumstances, but perhaps 
her gentle, pitying expression was harder 
to endure. 

'^Is that what troubles you, Angel? 
I am so sorry,’' Faith returned, ceasing 
to brush her hair to smile compassionately 
at her friend. ^^You see, Kenneth warned 
me that you did not like him very much. 
He was too kind to explain exactly the 
reason, only he said that you seemed to 
have misunderstood something about him. 
I suppose he was kind to you once, Angel, 
because of course he would be specially 
kind to a girl like you. But, there, you 
need not look so angry! You have a dread- 
ful temper, Angel. Even Betty Graham 
thinks so in spite of being so fond of 
you.” 

With pretended carelessness Faith Bar- 
ton now glanced away, devoting all her 
, energy to plaiting her long hair. Really 
her speech had been more unkind than 
she had intended it. But somehow she 
and Angel were always having differences 
of opinion and it seemed to Faith that it 


THE FIRST DISILLUSION 77 


was usually AngeFs fault, because she 
never quarreled with any one else. 

Besides, ever since her first meeting 
with the little French girl at Sunrise Cabin 
she had been the one who had tried to 
make and keep their friendship. Angel 
never seemed to care deeply for any one 
except her mother and now Mrs. Graham 
and her babies, and was always getting into 
hot water with other people. 

However, it certainly did not occur to 
Faith that her own amiability came partly 
from a lack of interest in any one except 
herself and partly because her own whims 
were so seldom interfered with. 

Curious that Rose Barton, who had 
been such a sensible guardian and friend 
to her group of Camp Fire girls, had been 
so indulgent to her adopted daughter ! 
But very few persons understood Faith 
Barton. She seemed to be absolutely 
gentle and loving and to live always in 
a world of beautiful dreams and desires. 
How could any one guess that she was 
often both selfish and self-willed? 

“There is no use talking any more on 
this subject. Faith, if you think I wish 


78 


IN AFTER YEARS 


to interfere because I am jealous of you,” 
Angel declared, and finding her cane slipped 
down from the bed. '^Besides, you know 
perfectly well you are doing wrong without 
my saying it. Anyhow, I believe that 
something will happen to make you sorry 
enough before you are through.” 

With this parting shot Angel marched 
stiflSy out of the room, too proud to reveal 
how deeply her friend had wounded her. 


CHAPTER VII 


A New Interest 

I T is a far journey from the New Hamp- 
shire hills to the plains of the West. 
Nevertheless a girl whom we once 
knew at Sunrise Hill is walking alone this 
afternoon on the rim of a desert and fac- 
ing the western sxm. It is scarcely fair 
to call her a girl, unless one has the 
theory that so long as a woman does 
not marry she retains her girlhood. Yet 
glancing at her as she strolled slowly 
along, no one could have guessed her to 
be more than twenty, though perhaps she 
was a little nearer the next decade. 

Exquisitely dressed in a long, dark green 
broadcloth coat with a fur collar and 
small hat, she was a little past medium 
height and unusually slender. Her hair 
was so black that it had an almost somber 
look, and yet her eyes were vividly blue. 
Just now, having wandered a good many 
miles from the place where she was stay- 

( 79 ) 


80 


IN AFTER YEARS 


ing, she looked extremely tired and 
depressed. In no possible way did sho 
appear to fit into her present surround- 
ings, for without a doubt she was a 
woman of wealth and distinction. It was 
self-evident in the clothes she wore, but 
more so in the unconsciously proud carriage 
of her head and in the lines of her face, 
which was not beautiful and yet seemed to 
have some curious charm more appealing 
than mere beauty. 

She stopped now for a moment to gaze 
with an appreciation that was almost awe 
at the beauty of the sinking sim. There 
was a glory of color in the sky that was 
almost fantastic; piles of white clouds 
seemed to have been flung up against the 
horizon like mammoth soap bubbles, tinted 
with every rainbow shade. With uncon- 
scious enthusiasm, the woman clasped 
her hands together. 

“Why,’’ she exclaimed aloud, “I was 
wondering what this scene reminded me of. 
It is dear old Sunrise HiU! What would 
I not give to be there in the old cabin 
tonight with Betty and MoUie and the 
others! But they must not know what< 


A NEW INTEREST 


81 


has become of me until things are all 
right again. Both Betty and MoUie aro 
too happy with their babies and husbands 
to worry over the old maids in the family. 
Sometimes, though, I feel that I should like 
to send for Sylvia.” Then the wanderer 
turned and stared around her. 

In every direction there were long waving 
reaches of sand with an occasional clump-* 
ing of rocks, while growing near them were 
strange varieties of the cactus plant. Some 
of them had great leaves like elephants^ 
ears,_some were small and thick with 
queer, stiff hairs and excrescences, and 
among them, in spite of the lateness of the 
season, were occasional pink and crimson 
flowers with waxen petals. 

Behind the wayfarer there was a trail 
which she must have followed from some 
nearby village, yet it was growing less 
and less distinct ahead, and certainly the 
hour was far too late for a stranger to 
be traveling alone so near a portion of the 
great Colorado desert. 

Nevertheless the young woman at this 
moment turned and left her path. Walk- 
ing deliberately for a few yards she 


82 


IN AFTER YEARS 


seated herself on a giant rock, and leaning 
forward, rested her chin in her beautifully 
gloved hands. 

^^So like you, PoUy O^Neill, even in 
your old age to have gotten yourseK entirely 
used up on the first walk you were allowed 
to take alone she began aloud, giving 
a half despairing, half amused shrug of 
her thin shoulders. ^‘1 am not in the 
least sure that I know the way back to 
my hotel if it grows dark before I arrive 
there, and assuredly I am too weary to 
start for the present. And hungry! Heaven 
only knows when I was ever so ravenous! 
Now if I had only been a Camp Fire girl 
in the West instead of the East, doubtless 
I could at once discover all sorts of de- 
lectable bread fruit and berries growing 
nearby. But I don’t feel I want to run 
any further risks at present.’^ 

So for the next half hour in almost 
perfect quiet Polly O’Neill remained seated. 
It would have been impossible for her 
to have done otherwise, for suddenly a 
curious attack of exhaustion had swept 
over her. It was not unusual of late, 
for indeed Miss O’Neill and her maid 


A NEW INTEREST 


83 


had established themselves in a small 
hotel near Colorado Springs in order that 
the well-known actress might recover from 
an attack of nervous exhaustion which 
she had suffered during her successful tour 
in the Western states. So Polly was quite 
accustomed to finding herself aU at once 
too weary either to move or speak. But 
quite like the Polly of old she had just 
deliberately walked five miles without re- 
flecting on her lack of strength or the 
fact that she must return by as long a 
road as she had come. 

No, in spite of the fact that Polly 
O’NeiU had in the last ten years made 
a great name for herself as one of the 
leading actresses in the United States, 
she was as thoughtless and impetuous as 
she had been as a girl. 

Finally, however, with what seemed to 
require a good deal of effort she got up 
and moved, this time toward the east, 
but aU the elasticity had gone from her. 
The sand was uncomfortably heavy, so 
that she dragged one foot after the other 
and her slender body seemed to wave like 
a stalk in the wind. But the worst of her 


84 


IN AFTER YEARS 


difficulty was that her breath came in 
short, painful gasps. Unconsciously the 
effort which the business of walking 
required made Polly pay less strict atten- 
tion to the path which she should have 
followed. But by and by, realizing that 
her way was less plain and that it was 
now quite dusk, she paused for a moment, 
put her hand to her side and then again 
seemed to be considering her situation. 
Whatever her decision, she must have 
accepted it philosophically, for this time, 
more deliberately, she sought another rest- 
ing place. Fortunately not far away was 
a better shelter of rocks, half a dozen of 
them forming a kind of semicircular cave. 
Deliberately Polly crept toward their shelter 
and there removed her hat and tied her 
hair up in a long automobile veil. Then 
she lay down in the sand with the stones 
as a shield behind her and before her a 
wonderful view of the night as it stole 
softly over the desert. 

Polly was not afraid and not even 
seriously annoyed. Life to her was but 
a series of adventures, some of them good 
and others less cheerful. She was not 


A NEW INTEREST 


85 


at all sure that she was not going to enjoy 
this one and she could not believe that it 
would do her any especial harm. She 
was sleeping outdoors for the benefit of 
her health in a smaU porch attached to 
her hotel bedroom. Perhaps the sand 
was less comfortable and clean than her 
bed, but then she had never before imagined 
so much sky and prairie. Moreover, there 
was no one to worry over her failure to 
appear except Marie, her maid. It was 
just possible that Marie might arouse the 
hotel and a searching party be sent to 
find her. In that case Polly knew that 
she would be glad to return to civilization. 
However, she did not intend to worry if 
no one came. Her hunger and thirst 
must be forgotten until morning. 

Somehow, when the stars came out, in 
spite of the beauty of the night Polly 
found she could not manage to keep her 
eyes open. She was not exactly sleepy, 
only tired. For never in years had she 
had such an opportunity to think things 
over. How crowded her fife had been, 
how fuU of hard work, of failure and suc- 
cess, yes, and loneliness! She was willing 


86 


IN AFTER YEARS 


to confess it tonight to herself. How she 
would have liked to have had one of her 
old Camp Fire friends here in Colorado 
with her! Yet they were all too busy 
and she had not wished any one of her 
family to know how ill she had been. How 
much trouble she had always given all the 
people who cared for her ever since she 
could remember ! Polly ^s conscience pricked 
her sharply. Why had she not married 
and settled down as her sister MoUie had 
suggested at least a hundred times? Be- 
cause she would not give up her acting? 
Well, she need not have done this had 
she married Richard Hunt. But too many 
years had passed since their engagement 
had been broken for her to recall him. 
She had not even seen Mr. Hunt in the 
past five years, although they had occa- 
sionally acted in the same cities and at 
the same time. 

Finally, however, when the famous Miss 
O’Neill actually fell asleep she was smiling 
faintly. For a vision had suddenly come 
to her of how shocked her sister Mollie 
and her brother-in-law, Mr. William Web- 
ster, would be if they knew that she was 


A NEW INTEREST 


87 


sleeping alone on the edge of a desert. 
But she was surely too near the village 
to be in any danger from wild animals and 
no one would undertake such a walk as 
hers had been at this hour. 

Nevertheless, wisdom should have 
prompted an old Camp Fire girl to have 
found twigs enough to have started even 
a miniature camp fire. But the edge of 
a desert is scarcely the place where wood 
abounds and the fact is, though she had 
thought of it, Polly had been too tired 
to make the necessary effort. For goodness 
only knows how much farther she need 
have wandered before coming to an oasis 
of shrubbery or trees. 

When at last Miss O’Neill opened her 
eyes actually it was broad daylight and 
standing before her was a figure that almost 
fitted into her dream. For the girl was 
just about the age of the group of friends 
who had once lived together in a log house 
in the woods, and aU night she had been 
dreaming of Sunrise Cabin. 

Nevertheless her visitor bore no other 
resemblance to them, so that the distin- 
guished lady rubbed her eyes, wondering 


88 


IN AFTER YEARS 


if she were yet awake and how the girl 
could have come so close up to her without 
her hearing. 

A glance explained this, for the intruder 
was barefooted and her legs and feet were 
so brown and hard they appeared totally 
unfamiliar with shoes and stockings. 

She was staring so hard at Polly that she 
seemed scarcely conscious of anything ex- 
cept her own surprise. 

With an effort Miss O’Neill sat upright. 
She did not feel tired now in the least, but 
gloriously rested and strengthened from 
her wonderful night out of doors in the 
clear, pure air. But of course she must 
explain her situation to the little girl before 
her, although she would have preferred her 
discoverer to have explained herself. 

In spite of being about fourteen years 
old, this child had on only a thin yellow 
calico frock, and it was late October. Her 
hair was perfectly straight and Polly might 
have thought her an Indian except that it 
was light brown in color, although a good 
deal stained by wind and sun. However, 
the girl’s eyes were a kind of greenish gray 
in shade and her features were delicately 


A NEW INTEREST 


89 


modeled. But she had a peculiar and not 
an agreeable expression. 

wandered away from my hotel last 
evening and was not able to return, so I 
slept here aU night. How did you happen to 
find me?’’ Polly began, feeling that some 
one must start a conversation in order to 
persuade her companion to cease her almost 
frightened staring. Of course Polly appre- 
ciated that she herself was not looking her 
best, but there was no reason why she 
should excite so much curiosity. 

Notwithstanding she received no answer. 
With a slight gesture of annoyance Miss 
O’Neill stood up. After all, she did not 
feel as energetic as she had thought and it 
was undoubtedly a long walk back to her 
hotel. 

^^Do you live anjrwhere near here? I am 
both hungry and thirsty. If you could 
find some one to help me I should be most 
grateful,” Polly said as politely as if she 
had been speaking to a friend. For if the 
girl was afraid of her she wished her to 
forget her timidity. 

But instead of replying the strange child 
stared harder than ever for half a minute. 


90 


IN AFTER YEARS 


and then before Polly could speak again or 
touch her she was off, running across the 
sand like a deer, without a backward glance. 

Miss O’Neill watched her for some time 
until she vanished into what appeared at 
this distance to be a clump of trees. Then 
she deliberately set out to follow her. The 
child must have come from some place 
nearer than the village where she was stay- 
ing. In almost any kind of settlement she 
would be able to find a horse to take her 
back to her hotel. 


CHAPTER VIII 


Bobbin'' 


"L her life Polly O'Neill had felt a 



curious shrinldng from physical 


cruelty, and growing older had not 
made the least change in her feeling. She 
had never talked about it, but had always 
been fearful that at heart she was a 
coward. The Camp Fire girls used to laugh 
at her because, of course, she had learned 
to do all of the things that their rules 
required without feeling any possible nerv- 
ousness. But then no one of them under- 
stood what physical cruelty might mean and 
possibly might never see an exhibition of it. 

Yet nothing was farther from her own 
mind at the present moment than this fear. 
She had come in about fifteen minutes' 
walk to a clump of cottonwood trees by a 
small stream of water, and there in their 
midst stood a crude two-room shanty with 
a bare space of ground in front of it and a 
lean dog sitting in a patch of sunshine. 


( 91 ) 


92 


IN AFTER YEARS 


But the sight that froze Polly’s blood 
and made her stand suddenly so still that 
she might have been a wooden image was 
the figure of a man with a long whip in 
his hand, such as one might have used in 
driving cattle. And this whip was now 
whirling and stinging through the air and 
twisting itself about the body of the little 
girl who had been the first vision that Miss 
O’Neill’s eyes had rested upon on waking 
that morning. 

But the strangest thing of all was that 
the child was making no outcry and showing 
no effort to run away. Indeed, she stood 
perfectly still, hugging half a loaf of bread 
in her arms. 

Polly made an inarticulate sound which 
she thought was a loud cry: ^^Stop!” But 
the man had not seen her approach and was 
too occupied with his hateful task to hear 
her, and to her intense shame she felt all 
at once desperately afraid of him. She was 
so far from any one she knew, she had so 
little physical strength and this man was so 
much more brutal than any one she had ever 
seen before in her life. Perhaps he would 
cease hurting the child this instant. 


BOBBIN^' 


93 


Then, without in the least knowing when 
nor how she had accomplished it, Polly 
rushed forward and seizing the man’s thick 
wrist in her own slender fingers, clung to 
him desperately, while the thong of the 
whip curled and fell in a limp fashion about 
her own shoulders. 

Too surprised to speak, the man took a 
step or two backward. In the course of 
her stage career Polly had acted a number 
of tragedy queens; and notwithstanding her 
slightly rumpled appearance at this mo- 
ment, she had never looked the part better 
than now. Her thin figure was drawn up 
to its fullest height, her Irish blue eyes 
flashed Celtic lightnings. She even stamped 
her foot imperiously. 

You beast!” she exclaimed. ^^What do 
you mean by striking a little girl in that 
cruel fashion? I’ll have you arrested! I 
don’t care in the least if you are her father 
or what she has done, you have no possible 
right to be so brutal.” 

The man had dropped his whip to the 
ground and PoUy now stooped and picked 
it up. It was absurd of her ever to have 
dreamed she could have been frightened by 


94 


IN AFTER YEARS 


mere brute strength. The man was a good 
deal more afraid of her for the instant. 
The sudden apparition of a fashionably 
dressed young woman, appearing out of 
nowhere and springing upon him in such a 
surprising fashion, had destroyed his nerve. 

wasn’t doin’ nawthin I hadn’t a right 
ter,” he growled. ^^That young ’un is allers 
stealin’ somethin’. I caught her red-handed 
running off with that there loaf of bread.” 

For the first time since her arrival on the 
scene Polly O’Neill turned toward the girl. 
She was still staring at her with almost the 
same expression she had worn earlier in the 
day. But somehow something in her look 
touched Polly, brought her sudden inspira- 
tion. 

^^Why,” she exclaimed with a break in 
her voice, believe she was bringing the 
bread to me. I told her I was hungry just 
a little while ago.” 

There was no one in the world who could 
be sweeter or simpler than Polly O’Neill 
when her feelings were deeply touched. 
This had always been true, even as a young 
girl, and of course, as she had grown into a 
famous woman, her charm had deepened. 


BOBBIN 


95 


Now she put her arms about her new 
friend^s shoulders. ^^You were going to 
give the bread to me, I^m sure. Thank you.’^ 
Oblivious of the fact that the little 
girFs dress was exceedingly dirty and that 
her face was far from clean, Polly leaned 
over and kissed her. 

Then she turned to the man. ^'If you 
will get a horse and drive me to my hotel 
I will pay you well for it,’’ she explained. 

In reply the man nodded and moved 
away, so that Polly was once more left 
alone with the girl. 

It suddenly occurred to her that the child 
had never spoken since their meeting. 
Could she possibly be deaf and dumb? That 
might explain her strange expression. 

^^What is your name?” Polly asked 
gently. 

Still the girl stared. Miss O’Neill repeated 
her question. 

Then the girl, picking up a stick from the 
ground, slowly and laboriously printed in 
big letters, such as a child of six might have 
made, the word ^ ^Bobbin.” 

Bobbin?” Polly repeated the name 
aloud as she read it. What an extraordi- 


96 


IN AFTER YEARS 


nary title! One could scarcely call it a 
name. 

that the only name you have?” she 
inquired again, wondering at the same time 
how it was possible for the little girl to 
understand what she said without being 
able to reply. But Bobbin bowed her head, 
showing that she had understood. In 
some fashion she must have learned the lip 
language. Yet it was curious why if the 
girl had ever been sent to school she had 
learned nothing else. She appeared the 
veriest little savage that ever lived so close 
to wealth and civilization. 

Polly sought in her mind to find out what 
she could do or say to show her gratitude. 
She had a sudden feeling that she could not 
turn her back upon the girl and leave her 
to her wretched fate, and yet of course the 
child had no claim upon her. It was some- 
thing in the expression of Bobbin’s eyes 
that seemed to haunt one. 

With a slight, unnoticeable shrug of her 
shoulders, as though giving up the problem 
as too much for her, Polly now slipped her 
hand into her pocket, drawing out her 
purse bag. Opening it she found a 


BOBBIN 


97 


large silver doUar, such as one uses in the 
West. 

Won^t you buy yourself something from 
me?^^ she asked, trying to speak as dis- 
tinctly as possible. She had not observed 
that in taking out the money she had care- 
lessly dropped a handkerchief from her bag. 

With a fleeting expression of pleasure 
the girl accepted the gift, but the next 
instant, when Polly turned to watch the 
man who was now approaching her with a 
lean horse hitched to a cart, she swooped 
down toward the ground and picking up the 
crumpled white object thrust it secretively 
inside her dress. 

Five minutes after, when Polly and the 
man had started for Colorado Springs, 
Bobbin remained in the same position, 
watching them until they were out of sight. 
Then she began eating the neglected bread. 

Upon arriving safely at her hotel, Miss 
O^Neill discovered that the news of her 
disappearance had been spread abroad by 
her frightened maid, and that a thorough 
search was being made for her. For 
although Polly had been trying to live as 
quietly as possible in a small, obscure hotel, 


98 


IN AFTER YEARS 


the fact of her visit was well known to 
hundreds of people. You see, at this time 
in her life not only was her name celebrated 
from one part of the country to the other, 
but her face was equally familiar. 

Through her maid, Marie, Polly was told 
that a gentleman, whose name she had not 
learned, had been particularly kind and 
interested in seeking to find her. So as soon 
as she rested she had every intention of 
inquiring his name and thanking him per- 
sonally. But by late afternoon, when she 
finally dressed, this was impossible. Evi- 
dently the man did not wish to be annoyed 
by her thanks, for the message brought her 
was that on hearing of her safety he had 
suddenly left the village. 

However, Polly was able to acquire some 
actual information about the girl she had 
seen earlier in the day, for “Bobbin’’ was 
apparently a well-known character in the 
famous Westen resort. She was a little 
stray daughter of the place. Years before, 
the mother had come to Colorado from some 
city in the South and had died. After- 
wards no one had ever claimed the child. 

So the town had taken care of her, sent 


BOBBIN^’ 


99 


her to school and tried to teach her to talk. 
She was perhaps not entirely deaf, although 
no one exactly understood her case. But 
the girl was a hopeless little rebel. In no 
place would she stay unless kept there by 
iron bars. She seemed to have an uncon- 
querable desire to be always out of doors, 
and in the brilliant Colorado climate this 
was nearly always possible. Recently she 
had been living with some gypsy people, who 
had established themselves in a temporary 
shanty at some little distance from the roads 
usually followed by sightseers. So Miss 
O^Neill had certainly wandered from the 
beaten track. Nevertheless she need not 
make herself unnecessarily unhappy over 
Bobbin,” for the girl would again be 
brought back to school as soon as she could 
be captured. 

Yes, her name had been Roberta, an old- 
fashioned Southern name, and then in some 
way it had been shortened to Bobbie and 
now Bobbin. The child had a last name, of 
course, but the woman who told the story 
to Miss O^Neill had either never heard the 
mother’s name or else had completely for- 
gotten it. 


100 


IN AFTER YEARS 


Late that night in reflecting over her 
adventure Polly wished that she and Betty 
Graham could have changed places for a 
week or so. For Betty would certainly do 
something for the unfortunate Bobbin to 
make life happier for her, as she had a 
kind of genius for looking after people. 
Her Camp Fire training had taught her a 
beautiful sympathy and understanding. But 
Betty must have been made that way in the 
beginning, Polly concluded with a sigh and 
a smile. She had no such gift herself. 
The girhs story, fragmentary as it was, 
interested her, but there could be no pos- 
sible point in undertaking to interfere 
with the child’s future. 

Nevertheless, try as she might, all night 
it was impossible for the famous actress to 
get the half tragic, half stupid figure of 
Bobbin out of her vision. 


CHAPTER IX 


Back in New Hampshire 

B etty was driving alone through one 
of the less crowded parts of Concord. 
She had been into the country and 
was now on her way home again. Not very 
often did she go out alone, but she had not 
felt in a mood for company and had pur- 
posely gotten away by herself. 

A week had passed since her midnight 
talk with Anthony and there was still a 
coldness between them. Each day Betty 
had expected her husband to declare that 
he had changed his mind in regard to finding 
a position for John Everett and would do 
as she asked. Yet so far he had not even 
referred to the subject. 

On her way home Betty considered that 
she had better stop and teU Meg how she 
had failed in influence with her husband, 
notwithstanding she could not decide just 
what she should do or say. Meg would 
not understand and might believe that 
( 101 ) 


102 


IN AFTER YEARS 


she had made no real effort for John^s sake. 
Yet she could not be such a coward as to 
leave her old friends in suspense. Since 
Anthony would do nothing to help, it was 
better that John Everett should know, so 
that he might find another occupation. 

They were passing through a quiet street 
shaded by magnificent old maple trees 
that were now bare except for a few clus- 
tering brown leaves, when Mrs. Graham 
leaned over to speak to her coachman and 
the man drew in his horses. The next 
moment her attention was attracted by 
seeing some one on the sidewalk pause and 
lift his hat to her. Betty had returned the 
bow before she actually recognized John 
Everett. Then he took two or three steps 
forward and held out his hand. 

was just going to see Meg,’’ Betty 
explained, blushing and wishing that she 
could escape the confession that lay before 
her. If John should question her now she 
felt she might have a sudden panic of em- 
barrassment. Of course she could think 
up some excuse for Anthony’s unkindness; 
she might even offer the same excuse he had 
made to her. Yet the fact that he had de- 


BACK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE 103 


clined to do what she so much desired 
would remain the same. 

But John Everett was smihng in the most 
ordinary fashion. 

wonder, Mrs. Graham, if you will 
not let me ride along with you, if you are 
going to Meg^s. I am on the way home 
myself.” 

Then in a short while Betty had forgotten 
her worry and was having the same agree- 
able talk of old times that she had enjoyed 
the week before. Moreover, it was John 
Everett who reheved her from her chagrin. 

^^By the way,” he began, just as they 
were about to arrive at Mrs. Jack Emmetts 
house, ^ ^please don’t worry, Mrs. Graham, 
or Betty, if I may call you by the 
old name, about asldng your husband to 
fix me up with a position in his ofiice. I 
know the new Governor is being over- 
whelmed with ofiice seekers. I have been 
lucky enough to secure something to do 
with my brother-in-law. Jack Emmet, and 
ex-Governor Peyton. They have a new 
business scheme on hand in which they 
think I may be useful.” 

Of course, Betty could not utter her 


104 


IN AFTER YEARS 


thanksgiving aloud, although she repeated 
it very fervently to herself. So, after all, 
she need not confess to other people 
Anthony’s lack of consideration. It was 
enough that she should be carrying the hurt 
feehng about inside her own heart. Instead, 
she merely murmured something or other 
that was not clear, about the Governor’s 
having been so very busy recently and having 
some special annoyance in his affairs. She 
was by no means certain of just what she 
said at the moment nor how she explained 
the situation, but fortunately John Everett 
did not appear to be particularly interested 
in the subject. 

Meg was not at home when they a.rrived, 
but instead of saying good-bye, John sug- 
gested that he should drive back to her own 
home with Betty. It had been years since 
they had seen each other, except the other 
evening, and there was so much to talk 
about. 

Then John explained that he had taken 
a small house in Concord and that his 
father was soon coming to live with him. 
Bumps would continue with his course at 
Cornell for this winter anyhow. So, after 


BACK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE 105 


an, there were uses in this world even for old 
bachelors, he ended smilingly. 

It was Betty, however, who suggested 
that they should go and see this house, al- 
though John told her it was a good deal out 
of her way. Yet it was a beautiful warm 
November afternoon and would not be 
dark for another hour. Somehow Betty 
did not feel that she wanted to go home 
at once. Faith had gone for a walk 
with Kenneth Helm, Angel had a half 
holiday and was spending the afternoon 
w.th the children. She and Bettina had a 
wonderful secret game that they played 
together in a room by themselves, where 
no one else had ever been allowed to come. 
There was no prospect of Anthony’s return- 
ing home for some time, so the Governor’s 
splendid mansion would seem big and empty 
to the Governor’s wife for an hour or so 
more at any rate. 

There was a caretaker in the little white 
house with green shutters, who was anx- 
ious to show Mrs. Graham and Mr. Everett 
every detail of it. The house was to be let 
furnished and yet it seemed to have been 
peculiarly fitted for old Professor Everett’s 


106 


IN AFTER YEARS 


needs. It was pleasant for Betty to im- 
agine the sweet-tempered, learned old man 
here with John and near his daughter Meg. 
He had been living alone in Woodford ever 
since his younger son, Horace, departed for 
coUege. Somehow Betty felt that it would 
be pleasant for her also to have the old 
gentleman living so near by. He had been 
a devoted friend of Mr. Ashton^s, whom 
she had certainly loved even more than an 
own father. 

shall be running in here very often to 
see Professor Everett and tell him the 
things that trouble me, just as Meg and I 
used to do when we were little girls,” 
Betty remarked to her companion. ^^He 
was the one person who never by any pos- 
sible chance believed that Meg or I could 
ever be in fault.” 

sure he will always be overjoyed to 
see you,” John Everett replied. “Only it 
is a little difficult for me to imagine Mrs. 
Anthony Graham ever having anything 
to trouble her.” 

As the November evenings grew dark so 
soon, it was almost dusk when Betty at 
length entered her own home after saying 


BACK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE 107 


good-bye to her friend, who had insisted on 
walking back to his sister’s house instead 
of allowing the coachman to drive him. 

Going into her private sitting room, 
Betty was surprised to find that Anthony 
had come home and was sitting there pre- 
tending to read. But most undeniably he 
looked cross. 

“I thought we were going to have a 
drive and tea together, Betty,” he re- 
marked reproachfully. “Where in the world 
have you been? No one seemed to know. 
I should think you would leave word where 
you are going, so that if anything happened 
to the children or to me the servants would 
know where to find you.” 

Actually Anthony was reproaching her 
in a perfectly unreasonable fashion! Betty 
could hardly believe her ears, it was so 
unhke him. Was he going to turn into the 
dictatorial type of husband after all these 
years of married life when he had been so 
altogether different? 

Usually Betty’s temper was gracious and 
sweet. Possibly if Anthony had ap- 
proached her in his usual fashion at this 
moment they might have gotten over the 


108 , IN AFTER YEARS 


feeling of estrangement that had come 
between them for the first time since their 
wedding. Moreover, the room was not 
brightly lighted, so that Betty did not 
notice how tired and worried Anthony 
looked. Of course, fatigue and worry 
explain almost any temporary unreason- 
ableness on the part of human beings. 

Quite casually Betty began to draw off 
her long gray suede gloves. She wore a 
beautiful gray coat and skirt and chinchilla 
furs and a hat with a single blue feather. 

^^DonT talk as if we lived in England 
and you were a kind of domestic tyrant, 
please, Anthony,^^ she said lightly. am 
sorry, but I had no possible way of know- 
ing that you were coming home from your 
office so much earlier than usual. You 
should have had some one telephone me. 
I have been having a very agreeable drive 
with John Everett. And, by the way, it 
was not worth while for me to have annoyed 
you by asking you to do me the favor of 
giving John something to do. He tells 
me he is going into business with Jack 
Emmet and ex-Governor Peyton.’’ Then 
as she moved toward her own bedroom 


BACK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE 109 


Betty was surprised and annoyed by an- 
other speech from her husband. 

“I don^t like the combination very well/' 
he remarked quietly. Neither Emmet 
nor Peyton have very good business repu- 
tations. They are going to try and get 
a shaky bill through the Legislature in 
the next month or so, I hear. But I sup- 
pose Everett knows his own affairs best." 

As Betty had now disappeared, she did 
not hear Anthony's closing speech. 

am sorry to have talked like a bear, 
dear. Won't you forgive me and let us 
be friends? I wish I could have fixed 
up things for Everett for your sake, but 
I could not feel that I had the right." 

Moreover, the young Governor's back 
was unfortunately turned, so he did not 
appreciate that Betty had not heard him. 
He was under the impression that she had 
simply refused to pay any attention to 
his apology. 

Well, he was too tired to discuss the 
matter any further for the present. He 
had several important decisions that must 
be made before morning and he and Betty 
and Faith and Kenneth Helm were to go 
to some big reception later in the evening. 


CHAPTER X 


Loneliness 

N ever in her entire career had 
Polly O^Neill felt more depressed. 
She was, of course, accustomed to 
a very busy life filled with people and 
excitement. Nothing else is possible to 
an actor or actress, although Miss O^Neill 
had tried to keep her private fife as quiet 
as possible. 

But here in her little hotel about a mile 
or more from the celebrated Colorado 
Springs she was finding existence duller 
than she had bargained for. In the first 
place, on her arrival she had let it be known 
that she desired no callers or acquaintances. 
Her reason for giving up her work at the 
present time was that she was greatly in 
need of a rest cure, so visitors to the 
Springs had taken her at at her word and 
Miss O’Neill had been left to recover her 
health unmolested. Now and then some 
unknown admirer had appeared at her 
( 110 ) 


LONELINESS 


111 


hotel or sent books and flowers. Neverthe- 
less, she had so far made no acquaintances. 

However, after several weeks of the 
wonderful, brilliant air, with nothing to 
do except sleep and write an occasional 
letter, Polly felt a good deal stronger. 
Yet she did not feel that she was weU 
enough to return to Woodford, and today 
the news from home had been depressing. 

You see, Mollie had never been told 
that her sister was ill and considered that 
if she only required rest it might as well 
be enjoyed at her own lovely big farm 
as among strangers in the West. So this 
morning her letter had urged Polly’s return 
home and had also imparted a great 
variety of dispiriting reasons. In the 
first place, Mollie told at great length 
that Dan, who was Polly’s favorite of her 
sister’s children, was not in good health 
and that he was showing certain oddities 
of disposition which struck his aunt as 
very like her own. Indeed, she believed 
that neither her sister nor brother-in-law 
understood the delicate, difiicult little fel- 
low, and she would have liked to have 
been near enough to have helped him 


112 


IN AFTER YEARS 


through a trying time. Then more dis- 
quieting had been Mollie^s information 
about their mother, Mrs. Wharton, who 
was beginning to show her age. More- 
over, Mr. Wharton seemed somewhat de- 
pressed over his business affairs. Then 
finally the most mystifying and in a way 
disturbing of Mollie’s statements had been 
her account of Betty Graham. 

For several weeks there had been no 
fine to Polly from her dearest friend, 
which in itself had made Polly vaguely 
uneasy. It was so unhke Betty ever to 
fail in her weekly letter w^hich had always 
followed her friend to whatever part of 
the world she happened to be. But now 
MoUie announced that Betty had been on 
a visit to her mother, Mrs. Ashton, in 
Woodford, and that she had seemed entirely 
unlike herself. Instead of having a great 
deal to say she had been strangely quiet, 
almost sad. 

Moreover, the new Governor's enemies 
were said to be making a tremendous effort 
to destroy his reputation and there was a 
great deal of talk going on about some 
matter which Mollie did not claim to under- 


LONELINESS 


113 


stand. Possibly Anthony’s annoyances 
may have been worrying his wife. 

Polly had been sitting alone on her 
small, private veranda which commanded 
a wonderful view of a rim of hills, when 
her sister’s letter had been given her 
along with her other mail. 

Before glancing at the other communi- 
cations she had eagerly opened this. But 
now she sat with the pages fluttering in 
her lap and her eyes filled with tears. 

Naturally MoUie had not intended to 
be so depressing; people seldom do seem 
to realize just what effects their letters 
may produce. Often they write merely 
to relieve their own feelings and once 
having put down all the gloomy possibilities 
that worry them at the time, rise up and 
go cheerfully about their business with 
the evils forgotten. 

So naturally it remains for the unfor- 
tunate recipient of the letter to become 
even more depressed than the writer had 
been. 

Moreover, Polly really wanted desper- 
ately to go home. It had been many 
months since she had seen her own people, 


114 


IN AFTER YEARS 


and though they often believed her to 
have less affection than other women, it 
was not in the least true. She had given 
up many things for her art and had some- 
times seemed selfish and cold-blooded. But 
it wasnT fair that her sister, MoUie, always 
seemed to think that she had never de- 
sired a home of her own, babies and some 
one to care for her supremely, that she 
had never grown tired of the wandering 
life her stage career forced her to lead. 

Finally, however, Polly managed to smile 
and give a characteristic shrug over her 
own self-pity. There was nothing in the 
world so silly. Like the rest of us she 
knew this to be true, yet, like the rest 
of us, now and then even this famous, 
grown-up woman, who had most of the 
things that people would give worlds 
to possess, indulged in attacks of being 
sorry for herself. Moreover, the day 
before she had sent for her doctor and 
he had positively refused to consider her 
leaving Colorado for the present. 

You may remember that PoUy had a 
certain inherited delicacy that used to 
keep her mother uneasy, and lately it had 


LONELINESS 


115 


troubled her. It was this fact she had 
concealed from her family and friends, 
so that now, though she was better, her 
physician had scouted the idea of a return 
East. Once near New York he was sure 
she would begin to talk business with her 
theatrical manager, or even undertake to 
study a new play. 

No, she must undoubtedly remain at 
her post a while longer. And yet was it 
reaUy necessary to have her post quite 
so lonely? 

Just as this idea occurred to her, a slight 
noise attracting her attention, Polly glanced 
down into the garden below her veranda. 

There stood Bobbin and the next^moment 
she had flung a poor little bouquet at her 
feet. It was a strange offering, all prickly 
cactus leaves with a single white flower 
in their midst. For some absurd reason 
it flashed through PoUy’s mind to wonder 
if her offering could be in any way sym- 
bolic of the girl who had given it her. 
Could there be something beautiful hid- 
den within the child^s peculiarities? 

For this was not the first token of 
affection that Bobbin had presented. In- 


116 


IN AFTER YEARS 


deed; many queer, small gifts had been 
brought to the strange lady since their 
first meeting, so that Polly had be^n 
curiously touched. For of course Bobbings 
offerings came straight from her heart. 
In her pathetic, shut-in world she had 
no way of knowing anything of the history of 
the woman whom she so plainly admired. 

Yet inside Polly O^Neill’s sitting room 
at this moment there were four or five 
tokens of affection that must have come 
from her. They were too extraordinary 
for any one else to have sent them and 
had been laid at her shrine in too unusual 
a way. For most of them had been ht- 
eraUy flung on her veranda. A few of 
them, when she happened to be sitting 
outdoors as she was doing at the present 
moment, and the others when no one had 
seen or known of their appearance. 

One of the gifts was a beautiful blue 
feather that must have fallen from some 
unusual bird flying over the western lands, 
another a stone that shone hke the finest 
crystal, in the sun, and a third a horseshoe 
some small broncho must have shed in 
trotting across the plains. 


LONELINESS 


117 


However, never once had Polly been 
able to thank her new friend for her gifts. 
For always at the slightest movement on 
her part Bobbin had turned and run away 
more fleetly than any one else could. 
For since Miss O’Neill^s report that she 
had found the girl living with such rough 
people Bobbin had been recaptured and 
brought back to the village to school. 
Notwithstanding, she had once more escaped 
and now either no one knew just where 
she had gone or else no one had taken 
the trouble to capture her a second time. 

It occurred to Polly at this moment 
that she would like to try and influence 
the girl, or at any rate show her gratitude. 
Besides, anything would be better than 
spending the rest of the day bewailing her 
own loneliness. Moreover, it would do 
her good for a moment to compare her 
own lonehness with Bobbings! 

Without a movement or a sign to the 
girLHo betray that she had even caught 
sight of her, Polly at once slipped into 
her bedroom and put on her coat and hat. 
And she was down in her yard and 
had stretched out her hand to touch her 


118 


IN AFTER YEARS 


visitor before the girl became aware of 
her. 

Yet the very next instant Bobbin started 
and began running as swiftly as she had 
at their first meeting. And this time, 
even more impetuously and with less rea- 
son, Miss O^Neill pursued her. 

It was ridiculous of Polly and utterly 
undignified and unbecoming. No other 
person in the world in her position would 
have done such a thing. Yet she had no 
more thought of its oddity and the atten- 
tion that she might create than if she had 
been a Camp Fire girl in the New Hamp- 
shire woods nearly fifteen years before. 

Of course the woman could not run 
half so fast as Bobbin in these days, but 
it was only because she was not weU, Polly 
said to herself angrily. She had been the 
swiftest runner of all the girls for short 
distances in their old Sunrise Hill Club. 
Of course Sylvia had used to get the better 
of her in long distance tests. Still, even 
now she was m..naging to keep Bobbin 
in sight, although she had a horrid stitch 
in her side and was already out of breath. 

Fortunately, however, for Miss Polly 


LONELINESS 


119 


O^Neill’s reputation she was not at the 
present time within the fashionable pre- 
cincts of Colorado Springs, else she might 
possibly have been thought to have gone 
suddenly mad. Her hotel was some dis- 
tance out in the country and there were 
but few houses in its neighborhood. More- 
over, Bobbin was running away from 
the town and not toward it. 

The road was a level, hard one, but 
all at once Polly felt a queer pain that 
took her breath completely away and then 
a sudden darkness. 

She did not fall, however, because! some 
one who was walking in the direction of 
her hotel reached her just in time. 

Then to her amazement Polly heard an 
exclamation that had in some unexplain- 
able way a familiar note in it. The next 
moment when straightening up and open- 
ing her eyes she seemed to be reposing 
in the arms of a tall man with dark 
eyes and gray hair, whom she had once 
known extremely well, but had not seen 
in the past five years. 


CHAPTER XI 


A Meeting and an Explanation 

44 — I was running/^ explained Miss 

I O^Neill as soon as she had sufficient 
breath to speak. 

Which was such an absurdly unneces- 
sary statement of an apparent fact that 
her rescuer smiled against his will. 

He was not pleased at this meeting with 
Miss Polly O’Neill. It was true that he 
had been walking out to her hotel to make 
inquiries concerning her health, but he 
had no thought or desire to see her. In- 
deed, deep down in his heart he believed 
that few women had ever treated a man 
much worse than she had treated him 
and he had never even tried to forgive 
her. For several years they had been 
engaged to be married, only postponing 
the wedding because of Polly’s youth and 
because she wanted to go on with her 
acting for a few years longer without 
interruption. Then when Richard Hunt 
( 120 ) 


A MEETING 


121 


had insisted that he was not young and 
could not wait forever, with characteristic 
coolness Polly had broken her engagement. 
She had written him of her change of 
mind and heart and he had accepted her 
letter as final. Never once since had 
they met face to face until this minute. 

! Yet now Richard Hunt found himseK 
holding the same young woman in his 
arms, rather against his will, of course, 
but not knowing what else to do with 
her since she scarcely looked strong enough 
to stand alone. 

think I would like to sit down for 
a moment, Polly volunteered finally and 
managed to cross over to the opposite side 
of the road, where she established herself 
very comfortably on a carefully cultivated 
mound of grass. 

Her rescuer stood over her. ^^May I 
do anything for you. Miss O^Neill?” he 
inquired formally. think it might be 
well for me to find your maid.’’ 

He was about to move off when PoUy 
with her usual lack of dignity fairly clutched 
the back of his overcoat. 

“Oh, please don’t go, Mr. Hunt — ^Rich- 


122 


IN AFTER YEARS 


ard/’ she ended after a slight hesitation. 

Really, I don’t understand why you have 
treated me so unkindly aU these years. I 
don’t see the least reason why we should 
not have continued to be friends. Still, 
you were going to my hotel to call on me. 
There isn’t any other possible reason why 
you were marching out this particular road, 
which does not lead anywhere else.” And 
at this Miss O’NeiU smiled with open and 
annoying satisfaction. 

hadn’t the faintest idea of asldng to 
see you,” Richard Hunt announced firmly, 
although a little surprised by Polly’s friendly 
manner. If they had been parted for a 
matter of five weeks instead of five years, 
ajid if the cause of their separation had 
been only some slight disagreement rather 
than something affecting their whole lives, 
she could not have appeared more non- 
chalant and at the same time more cordial. 
But then there never had been any way 
of accounting for Polly O’Neill’s actions 
and probably never would be. However, 
Richard Hunt had no desire again to sub- 
ject himself to her moods. He wished very 
much to walk on, and yet he could not 


A MEETING 


123 


make up his mind to remove her hand 
forcibly from his coat. Moreover, she 
looked too pale and exhausted to be left 
alone. Yet this had always been a well- 
known method by which Polly had suc- 
ceeded in gaining her own point, he re- 
membered. 

^^Then what were you going to my hotel 
for? Didn’t you even know I was stay- 
ing there?” she demanded, finding breath 
enough to ask questions, in spite of her ex- 
haustion of a few moments before. 

If only he had been a less truthful man! 
For a moment Richard Hunt contemplated 
making up some entirely fanciful story, 
then he put the temptation aside. 

Notwithstanding, his manner and answer 
were far more crushing to Miss Polly 
O’Neill than if he had told her a lie which she 
would probably have seen through at once. 

Always he had commanded more respect 
from her than any man she had ever known 
in her life, which was secretly mingled with 
a little wholesome awe. Polly had always 
put it down to the fact that he was so much 
older than she was. But she had had other 
acquaintances among older men. 


124 


IN AFTER YEARS 


“You misunderstood me, Miss O’Neill, 
when I said that I was coming to your hotel 
without any intention of seeing you. That 
was true, but I was coming with the idea 
of inquiring how you were. You see, I also 
have been staying in this part of the country, 
and not long ago I read in one of the papers 
that you were here and seriously ill. After- 
wards I learned that you were alone. Your 
family and friends have always been so kind 
to me that it appeared to me my duty to 
find out your true condition. I of course 
guessed that you had not told them the 
truth.^’ 

Richard Hunt gazed severely down at the 
crumpled young woman at his feet, ending 
his speech as cruelly as possible. 

“WeU, I like that!” PoUy returned 
weakly, falling into slang with entire uncon- 
sciousness. “Here I have been suffering 
j perfect agonies of loneliness and crying my 
eyes out every day because I so wanted 
mother and Mollie and Betty to come to 
me. And I only did not let them know I 
was iU, to keep them from worrying. Yet 
you make it sound just as if I were keeping 
my tiresome old breakdown a secret from 


A MEETNG 


125 


the pure love of fibbing inherent in my 
wicked nature. I do think you are — ^mean!^’ 

Was there ever such another grown-up 
woman as Polly O’Neill? Actually there 
were tears in her eyes as she ended her 
speech, relinquishing her hold on her com- 
panion in order to fish about in her pocket 
for a handkerchief, which she failed to find. 

With entire gravity Mr. Hunt presented 
his, and Polly, wiping her eyes and perspiring 
forehead, coolly retained the handkerchief. 

Don’t you think you are strong enough 
now to permit me to take you back to your 
hotel, if I may not look for your miaid?” 
the man suggested, wondering if his compan- 
ion had any idea of how absurd their position 
was, nor of how much he desired to get 
away from her. 

However, she only sighed comfortably. 
^^Oh, thank you very much, but don’t 
trouble. I am perfectly all right now. I was 
only out of breath because I was running 
after a littk girl who is as fleet as a deer. 
But I don’t want to go back to my hotel 
unless you were coming to see me. I was 
much too lonely there. I’ll just walk along 
with you and after a while, if I am tired 


126 


IN AFTER YEARS 


again, perhaps we may find a bench and 
youT sit down with me. Of course I know 
you are too dignified to sit on the grass hke 
I am doing.” 

Without the least assistance Polly rose 
up and stood beside her companion, smil- 
ing at him somewhat wistfuUy. 

What else could any man do except agree 
to her wishes? Besides, she had him cor- 
nered either way. For now if he continued 
his journey toward her hotel she would 
assuredly accompany him, and she had also 
volunteered to walk the other way. 

Moreover, it would seem too surly and 
disgruntled to refuse so simple a courtesy 
to an old acquaintance. 

So Polly and her former friend walked 
slowly along in the briUiant Colorado sun- 
shine in air so clear that it seemed almost 
dazzling. Beyond they could see the tops 
of snow-covered mountains tinted azure by 
the sky. It would have been humanly im- 
possible to have felt unfriendly toward any 
human being in such circumstances and on 
such a day. 

Every now and then Polly would glance 
surreptitiously toward her companion’s face. 


A MEETING 


127 


Gracious, he did look older! His hair was 
almost entirely gray and his expression 
certainly less kind. Polly wondered if he 
had reaUy minded their broken engage- 
ment. Surely he had never cared seriously 
for so unreliable a person! She must have 
seemed only a foolish school girl to him, 
incapable of knowing her own mind. For 
of course if he had not felt in this way he 
would have made some effort to persuade 
her to change her decision. How often she 
used to he awake wondering why he did not 
write or come to her? WeU, he was prob- 
ably grateful enough for his escape by this 
time. 

Then without in the least knowing what 
she was going to say nor why she said it, 
Polly inquired suddenly: 

“Richard, do you think Margaret Adams 
is happy in her marriage? I have so often 
wondered. Of course she writes me she is.” 

Several years before. Miss Adams had 
married one of the richest men in New 
York City and since then had retired per- 
manently from the stage. Indeed, many 
persons considered that Polly had suc- 
ceeded to her fame and position. 


128 


IN AFTER YEARS 


Richard Hunt shook his head. Really, 
I donT know any more than you do, Miss 
Polly, he returned. ^^But she has a fine 
son and certainly looks to me to be happy. 

Polly smiled. At least she had succeeded 
in persuading her companion to call her 
“Miss PoUy.’’ That was a step in the right 
direction, for in spite of her own boldness 
in using his first name as she had done years 
before, up to this moment she had been 
addressed as Miss O’NeiU. 

But there were so many things to say 
that she quite forgot in what way she 
should say them and talked on every 
minute of the time. 

She had been so lonely, so depressed until 
now, that life had seemed to have lost 
almost all its former interest. 

When she was plainly too tired to go 
further Richard Hunt sat down with her 
on a wayside bench for ten minutes. Then 
he resolutely rose and said good-bye. 

“I am ever so glad to find that you are 
so much better,’^ he concluded finally. “I 
see there is no cause for anxiety.’’ Yet 
even as he spoke the man wondered how 
any human being could manage to be as 


A MEETING 


129 


delicate looking as Polly O’Neill and yet do 
aU the things she was able to accomplish? 
Just now, of course, she did look rather 
worse than usual for her run; and then the 
walk afterwards had used up her strength. 
Besides, she had been trying so hard to 
persuade her old friend again to cherish a 
little liking for her and at this moment 
was convinced of her failure. 

She shook her head. Thank you,” she 
answered quietly. ^^It has done me good 
to have seen some one of whom I am 
fond. It hasn’t been altogether cheerful 
being out here ill and alone. It was kind 
of you to have cared enough to inquire 
about me. I suppose you will soon be 
going back to work. . Good luck and 
farewell.” 

Polly reached out her slender hand, 
which was white and small with blue 
veins upon it. In her haste on leaving her 
apartment she had, of course, forgotten 
gloves. 

However, instead of shaking her hand 
quietly, as both of them expected, Richard 
Hunt raised her fingers to his lips. 

am not going away from Colorado im- 


130 


IN AFTER YEARS 


mediately. May I come and see you soon 
again?^’ he inquired. A few minutes before 
he had not the slightest intention of ever 
dehberately trying to see Polly O’Neill 
alone as long as they lived. But she did 
look so forlorn and as lonely as a forsaken 
little girl. No one could ever have guessed 
that this was the celebrated Miss O’Neill 
whose acting had charmed many thousands 
of people during the last eight or ten years. 

Polly bit her lips. “Then you will come? 
I was afraid to ask you,” she rephed. “I 
want so much to tell you about a queer 
little girl whom I have come across out in 
these wilds. Her name is Bobbin and she 
seems to be deaf and dumb. I feel that I 
ought to do something for her and don’t 
know exactly what to do. Perhaps I’ll 
adopt her, although I’m afraid the family 
and Betty Graham won’t approve. But 
anyhow, Sylvia, the well-known Doctor Syl- 
via Wharton, who is a children’s special- 
ist, may be able to do something for her.” 

Naturally this idea of adopting Bobbin 
had not dawned upon PoUy until the in- 
stant of announcing it. But the more she 
thought of taking the girl to Sylvia’s care 


A MEETING 


131 


the more the idea appealed to her. Be- 
sides, Bobbin perhaps might awaken Mr. 
Hunt^s interest if he could see the child 
and hear her tragic story. The little girl 
might be made attractive with her queer 
eyes and sunburned hair, if she were 
cleaner and more civilized. 

“You will come some day and help me 
decide what to do, won’t you?” Polly 
urged. “One’s chief difficulty is not alone 
that Bobbin won’t be adopted, she won’t 
even let herseK be discovered. She is such 
a queer, wild little thing.” 

Then she watched her companion until 
he was entirely out of sight and afterwards 
got up and strolled slowly home. 


CHAPTER XII 


The Way Home 

N ot a long time afterward Bobbin 
must have changed her mind for 
some reason or other, for volun- 
tarily she came to call on Miss O^Neill. 
That is, she appeared in the garden and 
threw a queer scarlet flower up to the 
veranda. Then she waited without trying 
to escape when PoUy came down to talk to 
her. And evidently she must have felt, 
somewhere back in the odd recesses of her 
mind, that she was to be considered a vis- 
itor, for she had washed her face and hands 
and even her hair. Indeed, though it hung 
perfectly straight, Polly thought that she 
had never seen more splendid hair in her 
hfe, it held such strange bright colors 
from being always exposed to the sun and 
air; besides, it was long and heavy. 

Moreover, Bobbin wore a nold red jacket, 
which some one recently had given her, over 
the same pitiful calico dress. 

( 132 ) 


THE WAY HOME 


133 


By and by, using all the tact she pos- 
sessed, Polly persuaded her visitor out of 
the yard and up-stairs to her own rooms. 
Of course Marie, the maid, was shocked 
and displeased, but after all she was fairly 
accustomed to her mistress’s eccentricities. 
Moreover, after a little while she too 
became interested in Bobbin. The first 
thing Polly undertook to do was to feed 
her visitor. She had an idea that Bobbin 
might be hungry, but she did not dream 
how hungry. The girl ate like a little 
wolf, ravenously, secretly if it had been 
possible. Only, fortunately, she had learned 
something of table manners from her 
occasional training in institutions, so that 
she at least understood the use of a knife 
and fork, and altogether her hostess was 
less horrified than she had expected to be. 

Later on Bobbin and Polly undertook to 
have a conversation. This they managed 
by acquiring large sheets of paper and 
nicely sharpened pencils. But it was as- 
tonishing how easily Bobbin appeared to 
understand whatever her new friend said 
to her and how readily she seemed to be 
wiUing to accept her suggestions. 


134 


IN AFTER YEARS 


The truth is that the half savage little 
girl had conceived a sudden, unexplainable 
devotion to the strange lady whom she had 
discovered asleep on the sands. Perhaps 
Bobbin too may have dreamed dreams and 
imagined quaint fairy tales, so that Polly’s 
appearance answered some fancy of her own. 
But whatever it was, she had offered her 
faithful allegiance to this possible fairy 
princess or just ordinary, human woman. 
Yet how Bobbin was to keep the faith it was 
well that neither she nor Polly knew at the 
present time. 

However, by the end of her visit the girl 
had promised to go back to the home which 
the town had provided for her and to do her 
best to learn all she could. As a reward 
for this she was to be allowed to make other 
visits to Miss O’NeiU. She was even to be 
allowed to eat from the same blue and 
white china and drink tea from the same 
blue cup. 

Moreover, before Bobbin’s final departure 
Marie persuaded her into the bathroom 
and half an hour later she came forth beau- 
tifully clean and dressed in a discarded 
costume of Polly’s, which was too long for 


THE WAY HOME 


135 


her, but otherwise served very well. It was 
merely a many times washed white silk 
shirt waist and blue serge walking skirt and 
coat. They made Bobbin appear rather 
absurd and old, so that Polly was not sure 
she had not liked her best in her rags. 
However, both Bobbin and Marie were too 
pleased for her to offer criticism; yet, 
notwithstanding, Polly made up her mind 
that she would try and purchase the girl 
more suitable clothes as soon as possible 
and that she would write and ask Betty 
Graham’s and Sylvia’s advice in regard to 
her. 

For Richard Himt had not come to see 
her since their accidental meeting and 
she could hope for no interest from him. 
PoUy wished she had never laid eyes 
upon him, for their little talk had only 
served to start a chain of memories she 
wished forgotten. Besides, of course, she 
felt lonelier than ever, since there is 
nothing so depressing as waiting for a 
friend who does not come. 

Soon after dinner that evening PoUy 
undressed and put on a pretty kind of 
tea gown of dark red silk, the color she 


136 


IN AFTER YEARS 


had always fancied ever since girlhood. 
She was idling about in her sitting room 
wondering what she could do to amuse 
herseK when unexpectedly Mr. Himt was 
announced. 

^^Why, Polly/ ^ he began on entering, 
his manner changed from the coldness of 
their first meeting, ^^do you know what 
that gown you are wearing brings back 
to me? Our talk in the funny httle board- 
ing house in Boston so many years ago, 
when you explained to me that you had 
run off and were in hiding in order to try 
and learn to be an actress. I wish I 
could tell you how proud I am of your 
success.^^ 

But Polly did not wish to talk of her 
success tonight. So she only shrugged her 
shoulders. “Oh, I have always been doing 
foohsh things for the sake of my acting 
and yet I donT seem to amount to 
much.^’ 

After this visit Richard Hunt returned 
half a dozen times. Polly did not under- 
stand whether he was acting in the West 
not far from Colorado Springs or whether 
he too was taking a holiday. She asked 


THE WAY HOME 


137 


the question once, but as her old friend 
did not answer her explicitly she let the 
matter drop. 

Nevertheless it was quite true that from 
the time his visits began she grew steadily 
better. Finally, about ten days before 
Christmas, Miss O^Neill’s physician an- 
nounced that she might return to the 
New Hampshire hills to complete her 
cure at her sister’s home. 

Then came the hour of final decision in 
regard to Bobbin. 

Of course Polly could not adopt the girl 
in the conventional sense. It would have 
been impossible to have her travel about 
with her or to have kept her constantly 
with her. And even if it had been possible 
this was not what Bobbin needed. For- 
tunately for PoUy, Richard Hunt’s ideas 
on the subject were far more sensible than 
her own. Between them it was decided 
that Bobbin should travel east with Miss 
O’NeiU and her maid and spend Christmas 
at the big Webster farm. MoUie had 
written she would be glad to have her. 
Then later Bobbin was to see Sylvia Whar- 
ton and be put into some school where 


138 


IN AFTER YEARS 


she might learn to talk and perhaps acquire 
some useful occupation. 

There was no difficulty in persuading 
the town authorities to permit the little 
girl to follow her new friend. Indeed, the 
child had always been a tremendous prob- 
lem and they were more than glad to be 
rid of the burden. She seemed completely 
changed by Miss O’Neill^s influence. She 
was far quieter and more tractable and 
had not run away in several weeks. 
Besides this she appeared to be learning 
aU kinds of things in the most extraordinary 
fashion. However, her teacher explained 
this to PoUy by saying that Bobbin had 
always been unusually clever, but that 
some wild streak in her nature had kept 
her from making any real effort until now. 

Another peculiarity of the girFs which 
PoUy remembered having seen an example 
of on the morning of their first meeting 
was that she had absolutely no sensation 
of physical fear. Either nothing hurt her 
very much or else she was indifferent to 
pain. For this reason it had always been 
impossible either to punish her or to make 
her aware of danger. The thought inter- 


THE WAY HOME 


139 


ested Polly, since she considered herself 
something of a coward. She wondered if 
some day she and Bobbin might not change 
places and the little girl be discovered 
taking care of her. 

However, when the three women finally 
started east there was nothing unusual in 
the appearance of any one of them. For 
by this time Polly’s protege was dressed 
like any other girl of her age with her 
hair neatly braided. There only remained 
her peculiar fashion of staring. 

Richard Hunt saw the little party off. 
He expected to be in New York later in 
the winter and promised to write and 
inquire what had become of Bobbin. How- 
ever, he did not promise to come to Wood- 
ford to see Miss O’Neill, although Polly 
more than once invited him. 


CHAPTER XIII 


“A L1TTI2E Rift Within the Lute” 

UT, my dearest sister, what is the 
matter with Betty? You were 
perfectly right, she isn^t one bit 
like herself and neither is Anthony. I 
don’t even beheve she was particularly 
glad to see me when I stopped over in 
Concord with her for a few days.” 

Polly O’Neill was in her sister MoUie’s 
big, sunshiny living room in her splendid 
old farm-house near Sunrise Cabin. There 
was no specially handsome furniture in the 
room, perhaps nothing particularly beauti- 
ful in itself, yet Polly had just announced 
that it was the very homiest room in all 
the world and for that reason the nicest. 

There were low book-shelves on two 
sides the room, for though MoUie never 
read anything except at night when her 
husband read aloud to her, Billy Webster 
kept up with all the latest books, fiction, 
history, travel, besides subscribing to most 
( 140 ) 


LITTLE RIFT^’ 


141 


of the magazines in the country. Indeed, 
although he and Polly often quarreled good- 
naturedly, Polly was openly proud of her 
brother-in-law, who had turned out to be 
a more intelligent and capable man than 
she had ever expected. 

But besides BiUy’s books there were 
lots of old chairs, some of them rather 
worn, but all delightfully comfortable; a 
great big table, now littered with children's 
toys; the old-fashioned couch upon which 
Polly was reposing; some ornaments be- 
longing to ancestral Websters and a tall 
grandfather’s clock, besides half a dozen 
engravings and etchings on the walls. 

Mollie was sitting in a low chair dress- 
ing a big china doll. The sunshine hn- 
gered on her dark hair, her plump pink 
cheeks and her happy expression. For 
she was in a delightful state of content 
with the world. Was not her beloved 
Polly at home for the Christmas festivities 
and were not Billy and the children and 
her mother in excellent health and 
spirits? 

Yet she looked a Httle uneasy over her 
sister’s question. For Betty was nearer to 


142 


IN AFTER YEARS 


her heart than any one outside her own 
family. 

“So you noticed it too, Polly?’' she 
returned, stopping her work for a moment 
and gazing out the great glass window. 
Outside in the snow her three children 
were playing, her httle girl, Polly, and 
Billy and Dan. Bobbin was standing a 
short distance away watching them in- 
tently. Indeed, ever since her arrival at 
the farm she seemed to have done almost 
nothing except look and look with all her 
might and main. The girl seemed scarcely 
to wish either to eat or sleep. And at 
first this had worried her new friends, until 
suddenly PoUy had realized what a won- 
derful new experience MoUie’s home and 
family were to this child who had never 
seen anything in the least like it in her 
whole fife. 

But Mollie was not watching the chil- 
dren. PoUy got up and leaned on her 
elbow to discover what had attracted her 
sister’s attention. For only a few moments 
before the children had been sent outdoors 
to keep them from tiring the aunt whom 
they adored. 


LITTLE RIFT’^ 


143 


No, MoUie’s gaze was fastened on a big 
man who had just approached wearing a 
heavy overcoat and a fur cap and carry- 
ing a great bunch of mistletoe and holly 
in his hands, which he was showing with 
careful attention to the little girl visitor. 
^^Here comes Billy, she explained. 

Perhaps he can teU us.^’ 

Of course Polly laughed. Gracious, 
dear, isnT there anything in the world 
you wonT let your husband decide? I 
should think that even Mr. William Web- 
ster could hardly tell us what is troubling 
our beloved Betty. And I don^t know 
that it is even right to ask him. You 
see, old maids are shy about these things.’’ 

But in reply MoUie shook her head 
reproachfully. was only going to ask 
Billy about the difficulty Anthony is hav- 
ing with his position as Governor,” she 
explained. ^^You see, I know there is 
some kind of talk. People are saying he 
is not being as honest as they expected. 
There is a biU which ex-Governor Peyton 
and Meg’s husband. Jack Emmet, and her 
brother, John, are trying to get through 
the Legislature. Most people don’t think 


144 


IN AFTER YEARS 


the biU is honest and believe Anthony 
should come out and say he is opposed 
to it. But so far he has not said any- 
thing one way or the other. I thought 
maybe Betty was worrying because people 
were thinking such hateful things about 
Anthony. I simply couldnT stand it if 
it were Billy. 

^^Wise MoUie!^^ -her sister answered 
thoughtfully. '^You may be right, but 
somehow there seemed to me to be some- 
thing else troubling Betty. If it were 
only this political trouble, why shouldn’t 
she have confided in me?” 

But at this instant Wilham Webster 
came into the room with a dozen letters 
and almost as many newspapers in his 
hands. Six of the letters he bestowed on 
Polly, who opened five of them and stuck 
the sixth inside her dress. 

Ten minutes later BiUy Webster looked 
up from the paper he was reading. ^^See 
here,” he said, ‘^I don’t hke this. This 
paper comes pretty near having an insult- 
ing letter in it concerning Anthony Gra- 
ham. Of course it does not say anything 
outright, but the insinuations are even 


LITTLE RIFT^^ 


145 


worse. See, the article is headed: ^Is 
Our Reform Governor So Honest As We 
Supposed?^ Then later on the writer sug- 
gests that Anthony may not be above 
taking graft himseK. Everybody knows 
he is a poor man.’’ 

Afterwards there was an unusual silence 
in the big room until Billy turned inquir- 
ingly toward his wife and sister-in-law. 

“Don’t take my question in the wrong 
way, please,” he began rather timidly. 
“But is Betty Graham a very extravagant 
woman? I know she was brought up to 
have a great deal of money, and although 
she was poor for a little while that may 
not have made any difference. You see, 
Anthony Graham is absolutely an honest 
man, but everybody knows that he adores 
his wife ” 

Billy stopped because quite in her old 
girlhood fashion Polly had sprung up on 
her sofa and her eyes were fairly blazing 
at him. 

“What utter nonsense, Billy Webster! 
You ought to be ashamed of yourself for 
suggesting such a thing. In the first 
place, Betty is not extravagant, but even 


10 


146 


IN AFTER YEARS 


if she were she would most certainly rather 
be dead than have Anthony do a dishonest 
thing on her account. Besides, if Anthony 
is your friend and you really believe in 
him, you ought not to doubt him under 
any possible circumstances/’ Then Polly 
bit her lips and calmed down somewhat, 
for MoUie was looking a little frightened 
as she always did when her sister and 
Billy disagreed. However, her sympathies 
this time were assuredly on her sister’s 
side. 

“If you had only belonged to a Camp 
Fire club as we did with Betty Ashton 
you would never have doubted her even 
for a second, Billy. I know you don’t 
reaUy,” Mollie added, somewhat severely 
for her. “Oh, dear, I never shall cease 
to be grateful for our club! All the girls 
seem almost like sisters to me, and especially 
Betty.” 

Billy Webster folded up his paper and 
glanced first at his wife and then at his 
sister-in-law. 

“I beg everybody’s pardon,” he said 
slowly, “and I stand rebuked! Certainly 
I did not mean really to doubt either 


LITTLE RIFT^^ 


147 


Anthony or Betty for a moment. But 
you are right, MoUie dear, that Camp 
Fire Club certainly taught you girls loyalty 
toward one another. I donT believe people 
dare say nowadays that women are not 
loyal friends, and perhaps the Camp Fire 
clubs have had their influence. But some 
day soon I believe I wiU go up to Concord 
and see Anthony. Perhaps he might like 
to talk to an old friend.^’ 

^^He and Betty and the children are 
coming to Woodford for Christmas,’’ MoUie 
announced contentedly, whipping awa^^ at 
the lace on the doU’s dress now that peace 
was again restored. “Betty says she can’t 
miss the chance of spending a Christmas 
with PoUy after aU these years. Besides, 
she is curious about Bobbin. I hope 
Sylvia wiU come too. She won’t promise 
to leave her old hospital, but I believe the 
desire to see Polly wiU bring her here. You 
know she writes, Polly, that you are posi- 
tively not to come to her for the present.” 

Her sister nodded, but a few moments 
later got up and went up alone to her own 
room. 

Their talk had somehow made her feel 


148 


IN AFTER YEARS 


more uncomfortable about Betty than she 
had in the beginning. Somehow she had 
hoped that Mollie would not be so ready 
to agree with her o^m judgment. Yet 
most decidedly she had noticed a change 
in Betty during her short visit to her. 
Betty was no longer gay and sweet-tem- 
pered; she was nervous and cross, some- 
times mth her husband and children, now 
and then with the two girls who were spend- 
ing the winter with her, Angelique Martins 
and Faith Barton. Moreover, she had 
gotten a good deal thinner, and though 
she was as pretty as ever, sometimes looked 
tired and discontented. Besides, she was 
living such a society existence, teas, balls, 
dinners, receptions almost every hour of 
the day and night. No wonder she was 
tired ! Of course Anthony could not always 
go with her; he was far too busy and had 
never cared for society. For a moment 
PoUy wondered when Betty and her hus- 
band managed to see each other when 
they were both so occupied with different 
interests. Yet when they had married 
she had believed them absolutely the most 
devoted and congenial of all her friends. 


LITTLE RIFT 


149 


WeU, Betty need not expect finally to 
escape confessing her difficulty. Even if 
there was no opportunity for an intimate 
talk during the Christmas gayeties they 
must see each other soon again. Either she 
would go to Concord or have Betty come 
again to MoUie’s. 

Then Polly cast off her worries and set- 
tling herself comfortably in a big leather 
chair by the fire took out the letter con- 
cealed inside her dress and began reading it. 


CHAPTER XIV 


Suspicion 

u A NGEL, will you go into Anthony^s 
private office ; he told me he 
wanted to speak to yon” Betty 
Graham said carelessly one afternoon in 
December. She was dressed for driving in 
a long fur coat an^ small black velvet hat 
which brought out the colors in her auburn 
hair in the most attractive fashion. 

However, her expression changed as she 
saw the girl to whom she had just spoken 
turn white and clasp the raffing of the banis- 
ter as if to keep herseK from falling. 

^^What on earth is the matter with you, 
Angel?’’ she demanded crossly. ^^You look 
hke you were going to faint when I deliver 
a perfectly simple message. Surely you 
are not afraid of Anthony after living here 
with us all this time and working for him 
even longer. I suppose he just wants to 
speak to you about some business in con- 
nection with the office. He never talks of 

( 150 ) 


SUSPICION 


151 


anything else.’’ Then a little ashamed of 
her impatience, Betty put her arm on 
Angel’s shoulder. 

There has been something on your 
mind recently, hasn’t there, Angel, some- 
thing you have not;cared to confide to me?” 
She stopped, for her remark was haK a 
statement and haK a question. 

However, Angel nodded agreement. 

^ Well, I am sorry, but I don’t seem to be 
worthy of any one’s confidence these days,” 
Betty continued, trying to speak hghtly. 

However, if any one wishes to know 
where I have gone, dear, please say that 
Meg Emmet and I are driving together and 
that we are to have tea with old Professor 
Everett.” And the next moment Betty 
Graham had disappeared down the steps. 

Still Angel stood in the same place and 
in the same position. 

Surely Betty was being kept in the dark 
if she did not dream of the trouble that had 
been hovering over the Governor’s office for 
several weeks. Several important state 
papers had been misplaced, lost or stolen. 
No one knew what had become of them, 
yet on them a great deal depended. They 


152 


IN AFTER YEARS 


were the proof that the Governor required 
for exposing certain men whom he believed 
dishonest. It was absolutely necessary 
that they should be found. 

Summoning her courage, Angel knocked 
timidly at the Governor’s study door. It 
was in front of this same door that she had 
watched the guests at the Inaugural Ball 
some weeks before. Of course it was 
absurd for her to be frightened at the Gov- 
ernor’s having sent for her. She was too 
insignificant a person even to be ques- 
tioned in regard to the lost papers, as she 
was only one of the unimportant stenog- 
raphers at the Capitol and was only occa- 
sionally asked to do any of the Governor’s 
private work. 

Anthony was sitting with his desk lit- 
tered with papers when Angel walked tim- 
idly in. She thought he looked rather old 
and tired and stern for so young a man. 
But he was always very polite and at once 
got up and offered her a chair. 

^^I am sorry to disturb you out of office 
hours fike this, Angel,” he began kindly. 
^^I know it is Saturday afternoon and a half 
holiday, but I thought perhaps we could 


SUSPICION 


153 


talk something over better here at home 
than at the ofl&ce. One is so constantly 
interrupted there/’ 

Angel made a queer little noise in her 
throat which she believed to have sounded 
like ^^Yes.” 

Of course the Governor was going to 
dismiss her from her position. She was not 
a particularly good stenographer, not half 
so fast as many of the girls, although she 
had tried to be thorough. But then she 
had no real talent for office work and of 
course there was no reason why she should 
continue to hold her position because she 
was a friend of the family. Positively 
Angel was beginning to feel sorry for the 
Governor’s embarrassment and already had 
made up her mind to try and get some other 
kind of work. She would not stay on 
and be dependent. 

Anthony was tapping his desk with his 
pencil. 

'^See here, Angel,” he said, ^^I wonder if 
you by any chance have the faintest idea 
of what has become of some papers we have 
been a good deal worried about at the 
ofiice. I know you don’t often have any- 


154 


IN AFTER YEARS 


thing to do with my private business, but 
I thought by accident you might have seen 
them lying around at some time. They 
were two or three letters bound around with 
a blue paper and a rubber band. Know 
anything about them?’’ 

The girl started. For suddenly the Gov- 
ernor’s manner had changed and he was 
looking at her sternly out of his rather cold, 
searching eyes. For a man does not win his 
way to greatness through all the trials that 
Anthony Graham had endured without 
having some streak of hardness in him. 

Quietly Angel shook her head, but she 
was neither nervous nor offended by the 
Governor’s questioning. She had heard the 
gossip, strictly within the office, of the loss 
of these letters and it was most natural that 
every member of the force should be inves- 
tigated concerning them. 

am sorry,” she answered, her voice 
trembling the least little bit in spite of her 
efforts, ^^but I have never at any time seen 
anything of the letters you mention. Could 
it be possible that one of the servants at the 
Capitol realized their importance and stole 
them in order to get money for them?” 


SUSPICION 


155 


the Governor answered promptly, 
^Hhat is not possible, because the letters 
were taken from this study and in this house. 
Think again, Angel, have you seen nothing 
of them? There is no one else hving in the 
house here, you know, who works at my 
office except you.’^ 

Angel jumped quickly to her feet. You 
don’t mean — ^you can’t mean,” she began 
chokingly. ^^Oh, I can’t bear it! I shall 
tell Betty — she wiU never believe. Why, I 
thought you were my best friends, almost 
my only friends.” For a moment she found 
it impossible to go on. 

But the Governor was looking almost as 
wretched as she was herself. “My dear, 
I don’t mean really to accuse you of any- 
thing, remember. I am only asking you 
questions. And I particularly beg of you 
not to mention this trouble of ours to 
Betty. She is not very well at present and 
I am afraid she thinks I am too hard on all 
her friends. Indeed, I am sure I should 
never have dreamed of you in connection 
with this matter, but that some one in whom 
I have great confidence told me that he had 
seen you coming out of my study on the 


156 


IN AFTER YEARS 


night on which I behove my papers were 
mislaid. We wonT talk about the matter 
any more for the present, however. Pos- 
sibly the letters will yet turn up, and it has 
been only my own carelessness that is re- 
sponsible for the loss. There, do go up to 
your own room and lie down for a while, 
Angel. I assure you this conversation has 
been as distasteful to me as it has to you. 
It was only because the discovery of these 
letters is so important that I decided to talk 
to you. But donT think I am accusing 
you.'' 

SympatheticaUy and apologetically the 
Governor now smiled at his companion, the 
smile that had always changed his face so 
completely from a grave sternness to the 
utmost kindness and charm. 

But Angel would not be appeased. She 
had always a passionate temper inherited 
from her Latin ancestors, though she usually 
kept it well under control. 

^^You mean your private secretary, Ken- 
neth Helm, has suggested that you ques- 
tion me," she announced bitterly. “I 
knew he disliked me for some reason or 
other, but I did not know his dislike was 


SUSPICION 


157 


as cruel as this. It was he who saw me 
sitting out here watching the people down- 
stairs the night of your Inaugural Ball, 
because I was too shy to go down alone.’’ 
For an instant it occurred to Angel to 
say that she had seen Kenneth Helm enter 
the Governor’s private study on this same 
evening. But what would have been the 
use? The Governor probably knew of it 
and certainly he had the utmost faith in 
his secretary. It would only look as if 
she were trying to be spiteful and turn 
the suspicion upon some one else. Besides, 
had she not promised Kenneth Helm not 
to tell? At least she would not con- 
descend to break her word. 

Stumbling hah blindly, Angel made her 
way out of the study. In the hall she 
found Bettina waiting for her. 

“You promised to come and play more 
secret with me. Will you come now, 
Angel? We can go up to the nursery 
and lock the door; there is no one to find 
us,” Tina urged. 

But Angel could only shake her head, 
not daring to let the little girl see into 
her face. 


158 


IN AFTER YEARS 


Nevertheless, outside her own bedroom 
door she had to meet an even greater 
strain upon her nerves. For there stood 
Faith Barton in a pretty house dress and 
with a box of candy in her hands. 

^^May I come in and talk to you for a 
little while, Angel?^^ she asked, hesitating 
the least little bit. Kenneth has just 
sent me a note and a box of candy, saying 
that he cannot keep his engagement with 
me tonight. He is so dreadfully busy, 
poor fellow! I don^t believe Governor 
Graham works one-half so hard. So I 
thought maybe you would let me stay 
with you, as I am rather lonely. Besides, 
Angel, there isn’t any sense in your treat- 
ing me so coldly as you have lately. If 
I am doing wrong in keeping my engage- 
ment a secret, I am doing wrong, that’s 
all. But I don’t think you ought to be 
unkind to me. If I have been hateful to 
you about anything, truly I am sorry. 
You know I have always been awfully 
fond of you, dear, and wanted to be your 
friend ever so much more than you ever 
wished to be mine.” 

But instead of answering Faith, the other 


SUSPICION 


159 


girl had to posh by her almost rudely, 
stammering: 

^^I can’t talk to you now, Faith. I’ve 
got the headache. ' I’m not very well; 
I must lie down.” 

Then with Faith standing almost on her 
threshold, resolutely Angel closed the door 
in her face. 

If there was one person above all others 
at this moment with whom she could not 
bear to talk it was Faith Barton. 


CHAPTER XV 


Waiting to Find Out 
the days passed on, the little 



French girl did not find her diffi- 


^ culties grow less. At the office 
she continued to hear veiled discussions 
of the seriousness of the lost letters. No 
one, of course, except a few persons in 
the Governor's confidence, knew exactly 
what information the letters contained, but 
there was no question of their political 
importance, for everybody could feel the 
atmosphere of strain and suspense. Yet 
for one thing at least Angelique Martins 
was grateful: no one had in any way 
associated her with the lost or stolen 
papers. For whatever Kenneth Helm sus- 
pected, or Governor Graham feared, they 
had both kept their own counsel. Yet 
this did not mean that they both consid- 
ered her guiltless. 

Time and time again Angel tried to 
summon courage to speak directly to Ken- 


( 160 ) 


WAITING TO FIND OUT 161 


neth Helm on the subject. She had fre- 
quent opportunities, for even if there was 
danger of notice or interruption at the 
office, he came very often to the Gov- 
ernor’s mansion to see Faith or to dine 
with the family. 

However, she simply did not know what 
to do or say. To go to Kenneth and ask 
him why he had accused her seemed to 
the girl almost like a confession of wrong- 
doing. For oftentimes it appears pre- 
posterous in this world to be forced into 
denying an act that one could never have 
even dreamed of committing. How can 
one suddenly say, ^‘1 am not a thief, I 
am not a liar,” when every thought and 
act of their lives has been pure and good? 

Neither could Angel persuade herseK to 
tell Kenneth Helm that she felt just as 
suspicious of him as he could possibly feel 
of her. For she had no proof of any kind 
except her own dislike and distrust and 
the fact that she had seen him coming- 
out of the Governor’s private study on 
the same night on which he had suggested 
that she might have previously entered it. 
For of course the Governor’s private secre- 


11 


162 


IN AFTER YEARS 


tary had a right to his chief’s private 
papers at almost aU times. No, Kenneth 
would only consider her accusation an 
expression of feeble revenge and be per- 
haps more convinced of her guilt in 
consequence. 

Therefore there was nothing to do but 
wait with the hope that everything would 
soon be cleared up and the lost letters 
either found or their thief discovered. 

Moreover, Angel was not even to have 
the satisfaction of talking the matter over 
with Betty, the one person in the world 
who could and would have helped her. 
For she had the Governor’s strict command 
against this and did not dare disobey. 
Besides, Angel could see that Betty was 
unlike herseK these days and so should 
not be troubled by any one else’s trials. 
This, of course, was a mistaken point of 
view, as nothing would so have helped 
Betty Graham at this time as to have 
had some one to think about who really 
needed her. However, neither her friend 
nor her husband could have realized this. 

Nevertheless there was one consolation 
that the little French girl enjoyed during 


WAITING TO FIND OUT 163 


these days and that was ^Hhe secret^’ 
which she and Bettina had been cherish- 
ing so ardently for weeks. Every spare 
hour she had from her work she and 
Bettina had spent together in a big room 
at the top of the house, which was Bet- 
tina’s own private play-room, sacred to her 
uses only. 

It was a lovely room with pale gray 
walls and warm, rose-colored curtains, and 
all about were pictures of girls and boys 
who had come straight out of fairyland 
and had their photographs taken by such 
wonderful fairy artists as Maxfield Parish 
and Elizabeth Shippen Greene. 

For you see Angelique was absolutely 
attempting to draw one of these fairy 
pictures herself, while Bettina was acting 
as her model. 

The picture was not to be a portrait, 
the artist had scarcely courage to have 
undertaken that, but it was to represent 
Bettina’s favorite heroine, “Snow White 
and Rose Red.’’ 

All her life, ever since she was a little 
girl of five or six, Angelique Martins had 
been drawing and painting whenever she 


164 


IN AFTER YEARS 


had the least chance or excuse. Of course 
it was this same artistic gift that had 
showed in her clever fingers and sense of 
color through all the work which she had 
done in the Camp Fire Club. But of her 
actual talent as an artist Angelique had 
always been extremely shy. You see, she 
cared for art so much that she did not 
consider that she had any real talent. 
But even confessing that she had the 
least little ability, of course it would take 
years of study and goodness knows how 
much money before she could have hoped 
to amount to anything. 

Nevertheless there was nothing to for- 
bid the little lame French girFs amusing 
herseK with her fancy whenever she had 
the chance. And ever since she could 
remember, Angel had been drawing pictures 
for Bettina. It had been their favorite 
amusement as soon as Tina passed beyond 
her babyhood, which was sooner than 
most children. 

Naturally Angel had drawn hundreds of 
pictures with Bettina as her model before, 
but never one half so ambitious as this. 
However, this last one represented about 


WAITING TO FIND OUT 165 


the sixth effort, and it was a great ques- 
tion even now whether this was to be the 
final one. For “Snow White and Rose 
Red’’ was not merely a play picture, one 
that had been painted merely for amuse- 
ment; it had a most serious intention 
behind it. 

Weeks before in a magazine which the 
two friends had been looking over together 
they had come across an advertisement. 
A prize of two hundred dollars was offered 
for the best picture illustrating any fairy 
story. Moreover, no well-known artist was 
to be allowed to enter the competition; the 
drawings were all to be made by amateurs 
under twenty-five years of age. 

The first suggestion that Angel should 
take part in this wonderful contest had 
come, of course, from Bettina as soon as 
the older girl had read her the amazing 
announcement, for Tina’s faith in her 
friend was without limit. Then just as 
naturally Angel first laughed at her sug- 
gestion and afterwards decided to try just 
for fun to see what she could do; and 
here at last was most furiously in earnest, 
although stiU undecided whether to send 


166 


IN AFTER YEARS 


her picture to the competition or to throw 
it away. 

There were only a few days more before 
the time limit expired. Therefore, would it 
be possible for her to undertake an entirely 
new picture here at the very last? 

With these uncertainties weighing on her 
mind Angel was sitting in front of a small 
easel with a box of pastels on a table near 
by. Closer to the big nursery window 
Bettina was curled up in a white armchair, 
one foot tucked up under her in a favorite 
attitude and in her lap were half a dozen 
red roses. 

She was tired, for she had been quiet 
an unusually long time while Angel made 
slight changes in her work and then stopped 
to consider the whole thing disparagingly. 
But somehow her weariness made Bettina^s 
pose even more charming. 

Her long yellow-brown hair hung over 
her shoulders down into her very lap, her 
eyes were wide open and yet were plainly 
not looking at any particular object. For 
Tina was making up stories to amuse 
herself while Angel worked. It was only 
in this way that she could manage to 



Angel Had Caught Bethna’s Attitude Almost 

Exactly 





168 


IN AFTER YEARS 


keep still for so long a time as Angel 
needed. 

But this was the picture that Bettina 
herself made; what of her friend’s drawing 
of her? Naturally it was not so grace- 
ful or pretty as the little girl herself. 

Nevertheless, by some happy chance 
Angel had caught Bettina’s attitude almost 
exactly. Then too she had dravm a little 
girl who did not look exactly like other 
children. There was a suggestion of poetry, 
almost of mystery, about her fairy tale 
girl, in the wide open blue-gray eyes, 
dreaming as Tina’s so often were, and in 
the haK uncurled lips. 

Of course the lines of the drawing were 
not so firm and clear as an experienced 
artist would have made them, yet glanc- 
ing at the little picture, you felt some- 
thing that made you wish to look at it 
again. 

However, Angel sighed so that Bettina 
came out of her dream story and stretched 
herseK in the big chair. 

^^What is the matter?” she inquired. 
^^May I get up and walk about the room 
now?” 


WAITING TO FIND OUT 169 


The older girl nodded. Thank you, 
dear. This is the last time I am going 
to trouble you to sit for this picture. I 
have just decided that I canT do any 
better by trying it over again, yet I donT 
know whether I shall send it to the com- 
petition after aU.” 

The next moment Angel was startled 
by somethmg that sounded almost like a 
sob from Tina. Since the little girl was 
so seldom cross, she was surprised and a 
little frightened. 

^^I am sorry you are so tired. Why 
didnT you tell me?’^ Angelique demanded. 

Bettina had crossed the nursery and 
was standing close beside her picture. 

^^It isnT that, it is only that I do want 
you to send it so much,’^ Bettina answered. 
“You see, I think it is the best picture 
anybody ever painted and we have both 
worked so hard and it has been such a 
nice secret,’^ she said huskily. 

Angel put her arm about her. “Of 
course IT send it, dear, if you feel that 
way,*^’ she conceded. “But you must not 
even dream that I shall get the prize 
and you must promise not to be disap- 


170 


IN AFTER YEARS 


pointed if we never hear of the picture 
again. 

Bettina agreed and then there followed 
a most unexpected knocking at the locked 
nursery door. The two conspirators stared 
at each other in consternation. 

“Who is it, please?’^ Bettina demanded. 
“You know Angel and I are having our 
secret together and we can’t let any one 
come in.” 

Betty’s voice replied: “Yes, I know; 
but I thought maybe the secret was over 
and you would like me to come and play 
too. I am feeling pretty lonesome.” 

“Oh,” Tina returned, and then she and 
Angel whispered together. Finally the 
little girl came over toward the closed 
door. 

“I wish you would not be lonesome just 
now, mother,” she murmured, “just when 
we are most dreadfully busy. If you 
will only go away for a little while and 
then come back, why, Angel and I will 
love to play with you.” 

“I am afraid I won’t be here after a 
while,” Betty answered and then walked 
slowly away. It was absurd for her to 


WAITING TO FIND OUT 171 


feel wounded by such a trifle, and yet 
recently it had looked as though Bettina 
preferred Angelique^s company to hers. 
What a useless person she was growing 
to be! Well, at least she and Meg were 
going to a Suffrage meeting that after- 
noon! She had not intended going, but 
the baby was asleep and Anthony would 
not be home for hours. Perhaps after 
the talk ended she might drive by and 
get Anthony to return with her. She had 
not thought himMooking very well that 
morning. 


CHAPTER XVI 


A Talk That Was Not an Explanation 
HE Suffrage meeting was fairly in- 



teresting, but then both Meg and 


^ Betty had been believers in equal 
rights for men and women ever since their 
Camp Fire days and there were few new 
arguments to be heard on the subject. 

When they came out from the crowded 
hall, however, it was still too early to call 
for Anthony. There could be no hope of 
getting hold of him before half-past five 
o^clock. So it was Meg Emmetts suggestion 
that she and Betty stop by and see her 
father for a few moments. Professor 
Everett had a slight cold and his daughter 
was a little uneasy about him. 

They fomid the old gentleman in his 
library sipping hot tea and re-reading a 
letter from his son, Horace, whom Betty 
could not ever think of by any more serious 
name than “Bumps.’^ She always saw a 
vision of the small boy dragging around at 


(172) 


A TALK 


173 


his sister Meg’s heels and tumbling over 
every object m their way. However, 
Bumps” had grown up to be a very clever 
fellow and had a better record at college 
than his brother John ever had. The young 
man was to graduate in law at Cornell in 
the coming spring. The present letter was 
to say, however, that he expected to spend 
Christmas in Concord with his father. He 
had been doing some tutoring at Cornell and 
had earned the money for his trip himself. 

Plainly Professor Everett was much 
pleased by this news. He had always been 
a devoted father to all his three motherless 
children, but Horace was his Benjamin.” 

Moreover, they v^ere still talking of 
Bumps” when unexpectedly John Everett 
made his appearance. He was looking 
rather fagged, but explained that there 
was nothing going on at his office and so he 
had quit for the day. 

Nevertheless tea had a reviving effect 
upon him, as it had upon both Meg and 
Betty, so that Betty was surprised to dis- 
cover that it was twenty minutes past five 
o’clock when her visit seemed scarcely to 
have begun. 


174 


IN AFTER YEARS 


It was quite dark, however, as it was 
toward the middle of December when the 
days are short, so that John Everett in- 
sisted upon accompanying his sister and 
friend, even though they were in Betty’s 
carriage. 

Meg’s home was nearer. They drove 
there first and later John went on to the 
Capitol, where Betty sent in to inquire 
if the Governor were free to return home 
with her. 

There was a little time to wait before the 
answer came, so that in the meanwhile 
Betty and John continued talking. 

It was Betty who asked the first import- 
ant question. 

^^I do hope, John, that your new business 
is succeeding,” she said carelessly, although 
of course she felt a friendly interest in John’s 
success and in that of Meg’s husband. 

However, John Everett hesitated a mo- 
ment before replying. 

^^Oh, our success depends on your Gov- 
ernor and so perhaps on you,” he answered 
in a haK joking tone. “I don’t know 
whether you happen to have heard any- 
thing about it, but we are trying to get a 


A TALK 


175 


bill through the Legislature this season 
which will give us the chance to build the 
new roads in the state of New Hampshire 
for the next few years. But we donT know 
just yet how the Governor feels about it, 
whether he is going to oppose our bill or 
work vdth us. He has a big lot of influ- 
ence.” 

^^Oh,” Betty replied vaguely. She sin- 
cerely hoped that John Everett was not 
going to try persuade her to ask her husband 
to assist him for the second time. Surely 
if he did she would refuse. For in the first 
place she did not wish to confess that she 
believed herself to have no real influence 
with her husband and in the second she 
wouldnT try to interfere in anything so 
important as a bill to be gotten through 
the Legislature unless she knew everything 
about it. Formerly she had taken an 
intense interest in all the political affairs 
that interested her husband, yet recently 
Anthony had not been discussing matters 
with her very often. Moreover, she had a 
sudden feeling that she did not wish to be 
mixed up again with John Everett^s con- 
cerns. 


176 


IN AFTER YEARS 


So fortunately before Betty had a chance 
to reply Anthony came down the length of 
stone steps to his wife’s carriage. 

He seemed pleased at seeing her, but not 
very enthusiastic over her companion. 

However, John Everett said good-bye 
and left at once. 

They had only fairly started on the 
road toward home when Anthony said 
suddenly: 

do wish, Betty, that you would not be 
seen so often with John Everett. Oh, I 
know you don’t realize it, but it seems to 
me that you are very often with him. I 
know he is Meg’s brother and that you are 
devoted friends, but I tell you I don’t like 
the fellow. The more I know him, the less 
I like him. So I simply won’t have my 
wife in his society.” 

Betty caught her breath and her cheeks 
flushed hotly in the darkness. How unkind 
Anthony w^as to her these days! Could it be 
possible that he did not love her any more? 
He certainly could not be jealous of John 
Everett; that idea was too absurd to be 
considered. For she never had cared for 
any one in her life except her husband and 


A TALK 


177 


he must know it. However, she had no 
intention of being bullied. 

“DonT be silly, Anthony,’’ Betty replied 
petulantly. I don’t see very much of John 
Everett. Besides, if I did what difference 
would it make? Of course, if you know 
anything actually against him you would 
teU me?” 

^^So you no longer wish to do things just 
because I wish them? I’m sorry, Betty,” 
Anthony returned. Then they drove the 
rest of the way home in silence, both behav- 
ing like sullen children in spite of the fact 
that they were entirely grown-up people, 
the Governor of the state and his clever 
and charming wife. 

For the truth was that Anthony Graham 
was jealous of John Everett and yet was 
ashamed to speak of it. He would never 
have dreamt of such a feeling if only he 
and Betty had not been estranged for the 
past few weeks. Besides, he was missing 
the opportunity to spend as much time 
with her as he formerly had before his 
election to office. Surely Betty must under- 
stand that. How could he help hating 
to have another fellow drinking tea with 


12 


178 


IN AFTER YEARS 


her on any number of afternoons when he 
was slaving at his office — especially a 
man like John Everett? 

Oh, of course Anthony realized that this 
was rather a dog-in-the-manger attitude on 
his part and that he ought to laugh over it 
with his wife. 

Moreover, if he had, Betty would have 
understood and forgiven him. She might 
even have been a little pleased, since she 
believed that Anthony did not miss the loss 
of her society half so much as she had the 
loss of his. If he had even told her the 
special reason he had for disliking John 
Everett doubtless she would have been con- 
vinced, in spite of her natural loyalty to 
her old friends. 

But Anthony did not even do this. He 
had an idea that he was saving Betty trouble 
by not telling her of the loss of the papers by 
which he could prove that the bill which 
ex-Govemor Peyton, Jack Emmet and 
John Everett were trying to get through 
the Legislature was an effort to cheat the 
state. 

Yet in consequence Betty cried herself 
into a headache and was therefore unable 


A TALK 


179 


to come down to dinner, while Anthony 
decided that she would not come simply 
because she was too angry with him. 

So can people in this world manage to 
misunderstand each other, even after they 
have been married a number of years and 
are very deeply and truly in love with each 
other. 


CHAPTER XVII 


Christmas 

S TILL unreconciled, Anthony and Betty 
went together to spend their Christ- 
mas with Mrs. Ashton in Woodford 
in the old Ashton homestead. They took 
with them both Bettina and Tony and the 
nurse and Faith Barton. However, Faith 
was of course to stay with her foster 
parents. Doctor and Mrs. Barton. 

Only Angel refused to accompany the 
little party. She claimed not to be feeling 
well, to have some business that she must 
attend to, and indeed made so many ex- 
cuses that Betty, seeing that she reaUy did 
wish to be left behind, gave up arguing the 
matter with her. Moreover, Meg promised 
to look after Angel and see that she had her 
Christmas dinner with them, so that she 
would not be particularly lonely. 

It was in AngeFs mind that perhaps 
during the family’s absence something might 
occur which would relieve her from all sus- 
( 180 ) 


CHRISTMAS 


181 


picion in the Governor’s sight. Yet if she 
thought that this would come about through 
Kenneth Helm she was mistaken, for Ken- 
neth departed for Woodford on Christmas 
eve to spend the following day with Faith 
and her parents. 

Besides seeing her mother and giving her 
children the pleasure of a country Christ- 
mas Betty was chiefly looking forward to 
being with Polly. Somehow she felt that 
PoUy would be sure to cheer her up and 
make her feel young again. They could 
take long walks through the woods and dis- 
cover whether little Sunrise Cabin was stiU 
habitable. Billy and MoUie had always 
looked after it, carefully attending to what- 
ever repairs were necessary, so doubtless 
it was as good as new. 

Nevertheless it was extremely difficult 
after her arrival for Betty and Polly to find 
time for the intimate hours that they both 
longed to have together, for there were so 
many other people about — old friends and 
relatives 

Nan Graham came from Syracuse, where 
she had charge of the department of domes- 
tic science in the High School, in order to be 


182 


IN AFTER YEARS 


with her brother Anthony, whom she had 
not seen since his election. 

Edith Norton with her husband and four 
children still lived in Woodford and claimed 
the intimacy of their Camp Fire days. Then, 
of course, there was Herr Krippen and Mrs. 
Krippen and Betty’s small stepbrother 
to be considered, besides Mr. and Mrs. 
Wharton, Eleanor and Frank. 

But perhaps the most important and un- 
expected member of the Christmas gather- 
ing was the distinguished and eccentric 
Doctor Sylvia Wharton. Certainly it was 
Sylvia who kept Betty and Polly from being 
alone with each other during her own brief 
visit. 

The morning of the day before Christ- 
mas MoUie got a letter from Sylvia, who 
had charge of a hospital in Philadelphia, 
saying that much as she regretted it she 
would be unable to spend Christmas with 
them. 

During the late afternoon PoUy, who had 
escaped from the noise and confusion going 
on inside MoUie’s big house, was taking a 
walk up and down the bare wind-swept 
orchard to the left of the house. The ground 


CHRISTMAS 


183 


was covered with hard white snow and the 
air stung with a kind of delicious cold 
freshness. 

It was a part of PoUy’s regular duty to 
stay out of doors for a certain number of 
hours each day, so she now stopped her 
walk for a moment and glanced ahead at 
some almost blue-black pine trees sil- 
houetted against the twilight sky. 

Suddenly she became conscious of what 
sounded like a masculine step behind her, and 
before she could turn around felt her two 
arms firmly grasped by a pair of capable 
hands and herself swung slowly about. 

She faced a figure not so tall as her own, 
but broader, stronger and far more sturdy. 
The blue eyes looked at her through a pair 
of spectacles, the flaxen hair was parted in 
the middle and without the least sign of a 
crinkle drawn straight back on either side. 
The mouth was firm, but curiously kind. 
And just now it actually showed signs of 
trembling. 

^^Why, Sylvia Wharton!^’ Polly said and 
straightway hid her face in the fur of her 
stepsister’s long coat. Immediately she 
had a feeling of dependence on Sylvia’s 


184 


IN AFTER YEARS 


judgment and affection just as she had for 
so long a time, although she was several 
years the older. 

^^DonT try to hide your face from me, 
Polly O’Neill. I want to see how you are 
looking before you get back into the house 
and do your best to deceive me. I can 
feel already that you are thin as a rail,” 
Dr. Sylvia murmured severely. “You see 
if I don’t straighten you out before you go 
back to that wretched work again!” 

“It was good of you to come, Sylvia; I 
was so disappointed over your letter this 
morning. Only I am not your patient, 
dear; I am quite all right. It is ^Bobbin,’ 
my poor little girl, I want you to look after 
and find somebody to help,” Polly re- 
turned with unaccustomed meekness. 
“Really she is interesting and unusual. 
Both MoUie and Billy Webster think so; it 
isn’t only my foolishness. I suppose you 
thought my bringing her east with me was 
rather mad, didn’t you, Sylvia?” 

Sylvia smiled the slow smile that had 
always beautified her plain face. “No, 
not mad, only Polly!” she answered dryly. 
“But of course I’ll look the little girl over 


CHRISTMAS 


185 


for you, and then IT find the best person 
to see her and you can send her to me in 
Philadelphia. Only don’t think you are 
going to escape by that method yourself.” 

On Christmas Eve all the grown-up mem- 
bers of the Christmas party dined with Mrs. 
Ashton and Betty in the town of Woodford, 
since Mollie was to have the tree and Christ- 
mas dinner for them and the children on 
the farm the next day. 

It was an amusing change from the past 
to find that Anthony Graham and Sylvia 
Wharton were really the lions of the eve- 
ning. How different it had been in the old 
days when Anthony was only an awkward, 
shabby, obscure boy and Sylvia the plain- 
est and most unprepossessing of the Sunrise 
Hill Camp Fire girls! 

PoUy and Betty too, in spite of her 
wounded feelings, were both immensely 
pleased and amused by it. 

Of course Sylvia would rather have died 
than have mentioned the fact, but quite 
by accident Anthony had read the previous 
day of Sylvia’s election as President of the 
American Medical Society, the highest 
honor that had ever been paid a woman in 


186 


IN [AFTER YEARS 

the medical profession in the United 
States. 

Hearing the story at the dinner table, 
Sylvia was of course confused by the admi- 
ration and applause it excited, for she was 
still as shy and reserved about her own 
accomplishments as she had ever been as 
a young girl. 

Moreover, it was Polly who recalled 
having once predicted that Sylvia Wharton 
would become the most distinguished of 
the Camp Fire girls and who made a little 
speech in her honor, much to the confusion 
and disgust of Sylvia. 

Then Billy Webster offered their con- 
gratulations to Anthony, who was almost 
equally modest about his own attainments 
and insisted that his election as Governor 
was due to a happy accident and not to any 
possible ability of his own. 

The Christmas day following was even 
more crowded with people and excitement. 
Actually MoUie and Billy were to have 
thirty guests to dine at the farm at two 
o^clock and the Christmas tree for the 
children was to be given immediately after. 

Notwithstanding, Sylvia arranged to 
spend an hour alone with Polly and Bobbin 


CHRISTMAS 


187 


in a room at the top of the house where there 
could be no interruption. 

She appeared to be deeply interested in 
Bobbin. She made Polly talk and then saw 
how easily Bobbin seemed to be able to 
understand. Then she asked questions 
herself which now and then the little girl 
was able to comprehend. 

PoUy explained that perchance Bobbin 
imderstood her better than other people, 
because of her training as an actress, which 
of course required her to enunciate more 
distinctly. However, Dr. Wharton made no 
reply and after a time Bobbin was sent 
away to watch the children at play. 

Then Polly sat quietly in a big armchair, 
while Sylvia strode up and down the room 
with her hands clasped behind her. They 
were both silent for quite five minutes. 

Afterwards Sylvia spoke first. 

am by no means sure your little girl 
is entirely deaf, PoUy,’’ she remarked 
abruptly. “But I am not an expert in the 
matter and I don’t want to trust my own 
judgment. I believe she hears indistinctly 
perhaps and so has never learned to talk. 
Yet it would not surprise me if a sudden 


188 


IN AFTER YEARS 


shock of some kind might make her hear, 
and after that she would learn to talk 
easily enough. But IT discuss her case and 
we can see about it later. Now you are to 
let me look you over.” 

Of course Polly shrugged her shoulders 
and objected, insisting that she was entirely 
well and that it was absurd to waste Sylvia's 
time. 

Nevertheless, as usual, Dr. Wharton had 
her way and at the end of a half hour's 
examination Polly appeared pale and ex- 
hausted, while Sylvia looked more satisfied. 

^^You are not to go back on the stage 
again this winter, Miss O'Neill,'' she an- 
nounced decisively. “But you really are in 
better health than I expected to find you. 
If you only would behave with a little more 
sense!'' 

Polly sighed, waving her accuser away. 

“Do go and let me rest now, please,'' she 
commanded. “You know I have promised 
to recite for the children for an hour or so 
after dinner. And I do wish my friends 
and family would stop asking me to behave 
with better sense. How can I if I haven't got 
it? Everybody ought to be sorry for me. 


CHRISTMAS 


189 


Smiling, Sylvia departed. It was like old 
times to hear Polly talking in her old ag- 
grieved fashion when she knew herself to be 
really in the wrong. But then Sylvia de- 
cided that she would probably always love 
Polly more than any one else in the world, 
even if they saw each other so seldom. For 
she never expected to marry herself and 
doubted now whether Polly ever would. 
There had been a scare years before about 
a Richard Hunt, but as PoUy never men- 
tioned his name now she must by this time 
have forgotten him. 

The Christmas dinner and tree were a 
great success. After Polly had made the 
children shriek with pleasure by playing a 
dozen characters from Mother Goose, and 
the older people cry by reciting several 
exquisite Christmas poems by Whitcomb 
Riley and Eugene Field, the guests then 
sang Camp Fire songs until darkness 
descended. 

It was a pity, however, that Esther and 
Dick and their children were in Boston and 
unable to come home for the holidays, for 
Esther's beautiful voice was sadly needed 
in the music. 


190 


IN AFTER YEARS 


But at six o’clock Sylvia was forced to 
leave for Philadelphia, and so the other 
guests decided that it was time that the 
weary children should be taken home. 

However, for one minute Polly and Betty 
did manage to slip over into a comer and 
in that moment made an engagement to 
spend the whole of the next afternoon 
together. Moreover, in order to get away 
from every one else they planned to take a 
long walk to Sunrise Cabin. 

Nevertheless that same night each of 
the two friends lay awake for several hours, 
firmly resolving not to tell the other the 
trouble that lay nearest their hearts. For 
they both decided that they should have 
gotten beyond their old girlhood confi- 
dences and that there were certain things 
women should keep to themselves. 


CHAPTER XVIIl 


The Stupidity of Men 

a UT, my dear, there isn’t the least 
use of your denying it. The fact 
that you are unhappy is as plain 
as the nose on your face. Of course if you 
don’t want to tell me the reason you need 
not, but don’t expect me to be so stupid as 
not to see it,” Polly concluded solemnly. 

Actually the two friends were in the 
time-honored old living room in Sunrise 
Cabin. With their own hands they had 
brought in twigs and logs from outdoors 
and lighted an enormous fire in the big 
fireplace. Then Polly had produced three 
candles from her handbag and had stuck 
them into the tarnished brass candlesticks 
that were still ornamenting the mantel, 
where they were now burning fitfuUy. 

With their coats off both of the old 
Camp Fire girls sat on rickety chairs before 
the fire, their chins resting in their hands 
and gazing none too happily into the flames. 

( 191 ) 


192 


IN AFTER YEARS 


'^But I tell you, you are mistaken, PoUy. 
There is nothing the matter with me. Of 
course one canT expect to be happy when 
one grows older, as in our old irresponsible 
Camp Fire days. Maybe it is old age that 
is troubling me, for I am a most uninter- 
estingly healthy person.’^ 

In replying Betty tried to make her tones 
as hght as possible; nevertheless her com- 
panion only frowned the more unbeliev- 
ingly. 

^^Our Camp Fire days were never irre- 
sponsible ones for me, Betty child,’’ Polly 
responded, gazing thoughtfully around the 
dear, dismantled room. Often I feel I 
never learned so much at any other time in 
my life as I did then. But the fact remains 
that you are not happy as I want you to be, 
and I wash with aU my heart that you loved 
me enough to teU me the reason why. 
You see, Betty, I am rather a lonely, good- 
for-nothing old maid and I can’t expect 
much for myself. But you have absolutely 
everything in the world any woman could 
wish. And I think it is positively wicked 
of you not to be the same gay, sweet Betty.” 

, At this Polly got out a small handkerchief 


THE STUPIDITY OF MEN 193 


and began dabbing her Irish blue eyes, that 
were shedding tears partly from the smoke 
of the fire and partly from a general sense 
of discouragement. 

In return Betty stared back at her with 
equal severity. ^^What a perfectly absurd 
fashion for you to talk, Polly O’Neill!” 
she replied. You know perfectly weU that 
if you had chosen to marry you might have 
had what I have. Only you didn’t want to 
marry; you wanted a career and to be fa- 
mous and to make money instead. Well, 
haven’t you succeeded? Is that what you 
are crying about?” 

Polly nodded. expect there isn’t any 
law about wanting everything, is there, 
Betty Ashton Graham? So long as women 
are women, no matter what they may try 
to do or be, there wiU be times when they 
cry for nice husbands and babies. But I 
wasn’t crying about me, it was about you,’^ 
she continued ungrammatically and with 
her usual logic. ^'Here you are growing 
more beautiful every day you live. Every- 
body loves you; you have hundreds of 
friends, the two most fascinati^fg children 
in the world, except MoUie’s, and a husband 


13 


194 


IN AFTER YEARS 


who is about the best and cleverest man in 
the state, and who simply adores you, and 
yet you are wretched and cross and unlike 
yourself. I watched you yesterday, Betty,, 
and you never smiled a single time when you 
thought no one was looking and you never 
once spoke to Anthony. The poor fellow 
appeared dreadfully troubled too. What- 
ever is the matter, I am much sorrier for 
him than I am for you,’^ Polly concluded 
somewhat vindictively. 

“Oh!^’ Betty faltered and then was so 
silent that Polly humped her stool nearer 
until her shoulder touched that of her friend. 

^^That last remark wasnT true, of course, 
Betty,^^ Polly apologized. ^^For if Anthony 
is really a snake in the grass and treats 
you badly when he looks so noble and kind, 
why, I shall simply come to Concord and 
tell him what I think of him right in the 
Governor's mansion. I don^t care whether 
he puts me into the state prison or not.’^ 

Then, although she had been tremblingly 
near tears herself the moment before, 
Betty was compelled to laugh. Whoever 
could do anything else in Polly O^NeilFs 
society? The thought of Anthony^s thrust- 


THE STUPIDITY OF MEN 195 


ing a very noisy and protesting Polly into 
prison was a picture to dispel almost any 
degree of gloom. 

Betty slipped her arm across her friend’s 
shoulder. “No, dear, you must not think 
Anthony is unkind to me; it isn’t that,” 
she responded slowly. “Only I don’t be- 
lieve he exactly ^adores’ me as much as he 
used to. Sometimes men get tired of their 
wives.” 

“Nonsense, goose ! What put that notion 
in your head?” Polly returned lightly, 
although she was a little frightened by her 
friend’s reply. 

ReaUy she had not believed that any- 
thing could have come between Anthony 
and Betty. Her suggestion had only been 
made in order to induce Betty to deny it. 
The next moment she leaned over and put 
several fresh logs on the fire. 

“Nothing and no one in this world could 
ever persuade me, Betty dearest, that 
Anthony does not adore you,” PoUy then 
continued with convincing earnestness. 
“You see, he began when you were sixteen 
years old and he never knew that any other 
girl lived in the world. He does not know 


196 


IN AFTER YEARS 


it now, for he never even glanced at a single 
one of us yesterday, if he could help it. But 
you see Princess, dear, you are a good deal 
spoiled. You always have been ever since 
you were a baby, by your family and aU 
your friends. Even the Camp Fire Club 
used to look up to you and be more devoted 
to you than any one else. Esther has 
always been your slave and now your httle 
French girl seems to feel about you just 
as Esther used to do. ReaUy, Betty, I 
expect you need discipline.’’ 

Yet even as she spoke Betty’s auburn 
hair ghstened with such exquisite colors in 
the firehght that PoUy stroked it softly with 
her slender fingers. 

The Governor’s wife was thinking too 
deeply to notice her. 

wonder if things are my fault, Polly. 
I almost hope they are,” she answered 
wistfully. “You see, it has seemed to me 
lately that Anthony has been dreadfully 
unreasonable. He won’t do the things I 
ask him to and though he is too busy to be 
with me himself, he isn’t willing for me to 
spend much time even with my oldest 
friends.” 


THE STUPIDITY OF MEN 197 


ho!’’ whistled Polly softly. ^^What 
friends, for instance, Princess?” 

^^Oh, Meg Emmet and — ^John Everett. 
Isn’t it absurd? But Anthony has always 
felt a prejudice against John ever since we 
were boys and girls together here in Wood- 
ford,” Betty explained. don’t care par- 
ticularly for John now myself. He has 
grown kind of stupid and thinks too much 
about what he eats, but it would look 
utterly ridiculous of me to cut him for no 
reason except that Anthony is absurd.” 

PoUy dug her chin deeper into the palm 
of her hand as she so often did in moments 
of abstraction. 

Seems like a httle enough thing to do if 
Anthony washes it and you could do it very 
gracefully you know. Princess dear,” Polly 
rephed. “Besides, I am not so sure Anthony 
has no reason for his prejudice. I never 
hked John Everett a cent myself when we 
were all young. He was always trying to 
lord it over the rest of us and pretend to 
be very rich and grand and superior. Be- 
sides, Betty Graham, I don’t believe I 
should care to have a husband who would 
do every sohtary thing I asked him to do. 


198 


IN AFTER YEARS 


Somehow, I think I would like him to have 
a little judgment of his own now and then. 
So you really wish Anthony to do exactly 
as he is told. I wonder if your children are 
as obedient? But come along, dear, it is 
getting so late Mollie will be having fits 
about us. Fortunately you are a more 
sensible woman than I am. A perfectly 
obedient husband is about the last thing 
in this world I require. To what dreadful 
end would I bring him!’’ 

But Betty did not stir from her stool 
even v/hen her companion had crossed 
over the room and now stood holding out 
her long fur coat, waiting for her to put 
her arms inside it. 

^^Dear, if there is one thing I am more 
sure of at this moment than of anything 
else, it is that I am not so sensible a 
woman as PoUy O’Neill. Though good- 
ness knows I never could have believed 
it!” Betty whispered, laughing and yet 
profoundly in earnest. ^^It was a most 
excellent sermon and I mean to do my 
best to profit by it. Truly I have been 
behaving like a spoiled child for weeks. 
I know Anthony has a great many things 


THE STUPIDITY OF MEN 199 


that trouble him and I ought to have been 
more considerate. Somehow I expect this 
marriage is really more the girhs business 
than the man^s; He has to make the 
living for the family in most cases and 
the Camp Fire taught us that home mak- 
ing was a girks highest privilege. 

Then Betty got up and slipped on her 
beautiful long coat and the two friends 
started back toward Mollie’s big farm 
together. 

In all their girlhood they had never 
felt more intimate or more devoted. Yet 
neither one of them talked much during 
the long walk, just an occasional question 
now and then. 

The sun was going down, but there 
was an after-glow in the sky and because 
of the whiteness of the snow there was 
still sufficient light. At least Polly and 
Betty could see each other^s faces with 
perfect distinctness. 

They had nearly reached the farm- 
house when Betty suddenly stopped and 
put both hands on PoUy^s shoulders. 

^^Look me directly in the eyes, Polly, 
she commanded. 


200 


IN AFTER YEARS 


And Polly attempted doing as she was 
bid, but her lashes drooped until they 
touched her cheeks. 

^^Have you fallen in love with some one 
recently, Polly? Is that why you talked 
about yourself in such a discouraged fashion 
just now and lectured me so severely?^^ 
Betty inquired. 

Polly shook her head. ^^I don’t know 
whether you would call it falling in love 
recently, Betty, or whether I have been 
in love for the last ten years. But I saw 
Richard Hunt again when I was in Colorado 
and he was even nicer than he used to be. 
He don’t care a single thing about me any 
more, Betty. He hasn’t even sent me 
a Christmas card! The letter I had from 
him a few days ago was all about Bobbin. 
He wasn’t even interested enough to inquire 
if I was well.” 


CHAPTER XIX 


A Cry in the Night 

B ecause she was tired from her 
long walk and her conversation and 
from other reasons Polly went up- 
stairs to bed sooner than her sister and 
brother-in-law. 

As a special privilege the children had 
begged that Bobbin should be allowed to 
sleep in the nursery with them, and rather 
against her will Polly had consented. The 
little girl had previously occupied a small 
room connected with her own. 

However, she was too weary for argu- 
ment, and besides MoUie^s babies were 
cross and unreasonable. They had been 
playing aU afternoon with the Christ- 
mas tree which stood in the big back 
parlor just under Polly’s room. Anything 
to get them safely stowed in bed and 
the house quiet! 

For Polly had expected to lie awake 
for a number of hours, reflecting on many 
( 201 ) 


202 


IN AFTER YEARS 


things, when in point of fact immediately 
after retiring she sank into a deep and 
dreamless sleep. 

Moreover, about ten o’clock MoUie and 
Billy also decided to follow their sister’s 
example. And it was Billy himseh who 
closed up the windows and made the 
house ready for the night. Only he failed 
to go into the back parlor where the Christ- 
mas tree stood and where the floor was now 
littered with discarded toys and games and 
the walls hung with dried-out evergreens. 

He was under the impression that the 
windows in this room had been closed 
and locked when the children departed 
to bed. Moreover, locking up at the 
farmhouse was more of a custom than a 
necessity. No one had any real fear of 
burglars or tramps. Besides, the windows 
in the back parlor were locked and no 
danger was to come from the outside. 

But it must have been only about three 
hours later when Mollie suddenly awoke 
with a scream and start. A hand had 
passed lightly over her face. 

The next instant and Billy jumped up 
and seized hold of the intruder. 


A CRY IN THE NIGHT 203 


Yet his hands clasped only a slight, 
childish form in a white gown. It was 
too dark in the room to see who it could 
be until Mollie lit the candle which 
stood always by their bedside. 

Then they both discovered Bobbin, not 
walking in her sleep as they supposed, but 
with her face very white and making queer 
little movements with her hands and lips. 

“The child is frightened; something 
must have to disturbed her,’’ Billy sug- 
gested, still only half awake himseK. 

But Mollie had jumped out of bed 
and was already on her way to the 
nursery. Naturally she presumed that 
something had happened to one of the 
children and that Bobbin had come to call 
her. Poor little girl, she had no other way 
of calling than to touch with her hands! 

However, hah way down the hall Mollie 
turned and ran back into her own bedroom. 

“Get up please, Billy, in a hurry, won’t 
you? I do believe I smell smoke some- 
where in the house. Something must be 
on fire. Of course Bobbin could detect 
it before the rest of us; she is sure to 
have a keener sense of smell.” 


204 


IN AFTER YEARS 


A moment later and BiUy had jumped 
almost aU the way down the long flight 
of old-fashioned country stairs. 

^^DonT be frightened, dear, but get the 
children up and put clothes on them,’’ he 
shouted back. “It is too cold for you to 
go out in the snow undressed and we are 
miles from a neighbor. I will call the men 
and we Vvdll fight the fire. Don’t forget 
to waken Polly!” 

With this last injunction in her mind 
MoUie stopped to hammer on her sister’s 
door before she ran on to the nursery. 

She was certain that she heard PoUy 
answer her. Besides, by this time the 
house was filled with an excited tumult, 
MoUie’s little boys were dancing about 
in the haU, hah pleased and hah frightened 
with the excitement, their nurse was scold- 
ing and crying and vainly endeavoring to 
dress the small Polly. 

So it was plain enough that for the next few 
minutes MoUie had difficulty enough in keep- 
ing her wits about her and in quieting her 
family, especially as every now and then she 
could hear her husband’s voice from below 
caUing on her to hurry as quickly as possible. 


A CRY IN THE NIGHT 205 


Only Bobbin at once slipped into a 
heavy, long coat and shoes and rushed 
back to Polly^s room. The door was 
locked, but she pounded patiently and 
automatically on the outside, unable, of 
course, to hear the answering voice from 
within. 

Then there came a sudden hoarse shout 
from below stairs and in that instant 
Mr. Webster, dashing up a flight of steps 
almost at one bound, returned with the 
baby in his arms, while MoUie led one 
of the small boys and the nurse the other. 

^^Come on, you and Polly, at once!^^ 
MoUie cried, waving her hands and point- 
ing toward the great haU to show that 
there was no time for further delay. 

But this was evident enough to Bobbin 
without being told, for the smoke was 
pouring out of the parlor into the haU 
and coming up the stairs like a great 
advancing army. 

However, Bobbin would not leave her 
post. There was not the faintest thought 
in her brain of ever stirring from without 
that locked door until the one person whom 
she loved in the world should come forth 


206 


IN AFTER YEARS 


from it. And she was not conscious of 
feeling particularly afraid, only she could 
not understand why Miss O’Neill would 
not hurry. 

A moment later, however, and Bobbin 
found herself outside standing alone in 
the snow. 

There had been no possible outcry on 
her part, no explanation and no argument, 
of course. Only when one of the farm 
laborers rushing up-stairs had seen the 
little girl loitering in the hall, without 
saying by your leave, he had seized her 
in his arms and borne her struggling through 
the now stifling smoke. 

Outside in the yard Bobbin for a mo- 
ment felt weak and confused. For all 
at once the place seemed to be swarming 
with excited people. 

There were a dozen men and their families 
living on the big farm with houses of their 
own. And now the ringing of a great 
bell had brought them all out with their 
wives and children as well. 

The women were swarming about Mollie 
with their children, crying, gesticulating, 
talking. It was a clear, white night and 


A CRY IN THE NIGHT 207 


Bobbin could see them easily. The men 
were engaged in rushing back and forth 
with pails of water, fearing that the water 
might freeze on the way. 

But there was nowhere any sign of 
PoUy! 

Bobbin did not try to attract attention. 
In the instant it did not even occur to 
her that she might not have been able 
to make any one understand. Simply 
and without being seen she slipped into 
one of the big front windows, opened by 
the men as a passage-way, and started 
fighting her way again up the black, smoke- 
laden steps. 

There seemed to be no more air, it was 
aU a thick, foggy substance that got into your 
throat and made you unable to breathe and 
into your eyes so that you could not see. 
But Bobbin went resolutely on. 

She clung to the banisters and dragged 
herself upward, either too stupid or too 
intent on her errand to suffer fear. Never- 
theless, through the smoke she could see 
that long tongues of flame were bursting 
out of the doors of the back parlor into 
the hall beneath her. 


208 


IN AFTER YEARS 


Only, once more at Polly’s bedroom door 
Bobbin lost heart and the only real terror 
she ever remembered enduring seized hold 
on her. For Polly’s door was still locked 
and she had no means of making her hear. 

All that she could accomplish by ham- 
mering and kicking she had done before. 
Of course, she tried this again, yet the 
door did not open and so far as Bobbin 
could know there was no movement from 
the inside. 

Yet next Miss O’Neill’s room there was 
her own room and the door of this was 
unfastened. With a kind of haK-blind 
impulse Bobbin staggered into it. She 
had no clear or definite idea of what she 
intended doing, yet fortunately this room 
was only partially fiUed with smoke so 
that she could in a measure see her way 
about. 

There in the comer stood an old- 
fashioned, heavy wooden chair. Almost 
instinctively Bobbin seized hold on it. 
She was curiously strong, doubly so to 
any other girl of her age, since she had 
lived outdoors always like a little bar- 
barian. Besides, there was nothing else 


A CRY IN THE NIGHT 209 


that could be done. She must break down 
Miss O^Neill’s door. 

With all her force the girl hurled the 
heavy chair against the oak door. There 
were a few marks on its surface, yet the 
door remained absolutely firm, for the 
Webster house had been built in the days 
when wood had been plentiful in the New 
Hampshire hiUs and homes had been ex- 
pected to endure. 

Nevertheless Bobbin pounded again and 
again, almost automatically her thin arms 
seemed to work, and yet all her effort 
was without avail. 

During these moments no one can guess 
exactly what emotions tore at the girks 
heart. If only she could have cried out 
her alarm and her desire, surely she would 
have been answered! 

Bobbings face worked strangely, there 
was a kind of throbbing in her ears and her 
lips moved. Polly she called in a 
hoarse little whisper, and this was the 
first word she had ever spoken in her life. 

Inside in her smoke-filled room Polly 
O’Neill could not possibly have heard her. 
For the past fifteen minutes, during aU 

14 


210 


IN AFTER YEARS 


the excitement due to the fire, she had 
been lying upon her bed in a stifled condi- 
tion. For no one had realized that as 
Polly’s room was immediately above the 
back parlor, where the fire had been 
smouldering ever since the children had 
gone up-stairs to bed, her room had been 
first to be filled with smoke. Yet the 
smoke had come so slowly, so gradually 
as she lay in a kind of exhausted sleep, 
that she had been stupefied rather than 
awakened by it. 

Now was it the miracle rather than the 
sound of Bobbin’s speaking her name that 
penetrated slowly to Polly’s consciousness, 
or was it the noise of the repeated pound- 
ing of the heavy chair against her door? 
Whatever the cause, she came back to 
the world, choking, blinded, fighting with 
her hands to keep off the black substance 
that was crowding into her lungs. 

Then somehow she managed to crawl 
across her room, remembering that the 
smoke would be denser higher up in the 
atmosphere. Unlocking the door, she turned 
the handle and Bobbin caught her as she 
half fell into the hall. 


A CRY IN THE NIGHT 211 


With a quick movement the girl put 
her arm about the older woman^s waist 
and started for the stairway, for the haU 
was dense with smoke and now and then 
a tongue of flame leaped up from below 
and seemed to dance for a moment in the 
air about them. 

It was overpowering, unendurable. Polly 
was already dazed and exhausted and her 
lungs were always delicate. At the top 
of the stairs she became a dead weight 
on her companion's arms. Besides, by 
this time Bobbin too was very weary. 


CHAPTER XX 


The Discovery 

FEW moments after Bobbin’s dis- 



appearance inside the house MoUie 


O’Neill had suddenly torn herself 
away from the people closed about her in 
their effort to hide from her eyes the possible 
destruction of her home. 

She looked searchingly around her. 

^ToUy!” she caUed, “PoUy!” For the 
first moment since the fire started, she 
seemed to be losing her self-control. For 
all at once it had come to her in a terrifying 
fiash that she had not caught a glimpse of her 
sister since the moment when she had gone 
up-stairs at eight o’clock to retire to bed. 

Nevertheless Polly must be somewhere 
near by. She must have heard her calling 
and she had had plenty of time to escape, 
more than any one else, as she had no one 
else to look after save herself. Yet it was 
not like Polly not to have come at once to 
her aid with the children! 


( 212 ) 


THE DISCOVERY 


213 


MoUie ran here and there about the yard, 
still crying out her sister’s name, horror 
and conviction growing upon her at every 
step. 

At last she caught sight of her husband 
directing half a dozen men and caught hold 
of his arm. 

Billy, Polly is still inside the house, 
locked in her own room. Don’t ask me 
how I know it, I do. We have got to go 
in and get her.” And MoUie started 
quickly toward the front porch, until her 
husband flung his arms about her. 

^^Wait here, MoUie,” he said sternly. 
^^You will do no good, only make things 
harder for me. If Polly is inside the house, 
as you say. I’ll have her out in a jiffy.” 

Then he caUed to one of the men. ^^Keep 
Mrs. Webster here. On no account let 
her foUow me,” he commanded, and glancing 
about in every direction as he ran, he too 
made for the house. 

Assuredly MoUie was right. Neither 
had he gotten even a passing glimpse of 
Polly since the alarm of fire. But was it 
going to be so simple a matter to rescue her 
as he had pretended to his wife? For 


214 


IN AFTER YEARS 


certainly if Polly had heard nothing of the 
tumult and danger surrounding her she 
must be already hurt and unconscious. 

Once inside his own hall BiUy Webster 
squared his great shoulders. The way 
ahead of him now looked like a pathway of 
flame and yet the smoke was harder to 
endure than the heat. Nevertheless go 
through it he must, since Polly’s room lay 
at the head of the stairs. 

She must be saved. Billy had a sudden 
vision of Polly from her girlhood until now; 
her wiLfuhiess, her charm and her great 
talent. How^ stupidly he had opposed her 
desire to be an actress in the days when he 
had supposed himseK in love with Polly 
O’Neill instead of her twin sister! Well, 
now they understood each other and were 
friends and she should not come to grief 
in his house. 

In his pocket there was a wet handker- 
chief. Indeed, all his clothes were for- 
tunately damp from the water that had 
been splashed upon him in the work 
outdoors. Quickly the man tied the hand- 
kerchief about his mouth. Then he took 
a few steps forward and paused. There 


THE DISCOVERY 


215 


was a noise of something falling from above; 
possibly some of the timbers of the old 
house were beginning to give way. Could 
they be under Polly^s room? 

But even while he thought, Billy Webster 
fought his way deliberately forward until 
he at last reached the bottom of the stairs 
and then his feet struck something soft and 
yielding. Stooping down, he caught up 
two figures in his arms, not one ! 

For in that moment at the head of the 
stairs when PoUy had lost consciousness 
Bobbin had managed to haK carry, hah 
drag her on a part of the way. Then 
realizing that her own strength was failing, 
with instinctive good sense and courage she 
had flung them both forward, so that they 
both slid inertly down to the bottom of 
the stairs. 

Instantly and without feeling their weight 
the man carried the woman and girl out of 
doors. 

Poor Bobbin, whom in these last terri- 
ble moments they had forgotten! Yet she 
it was who had remembered better than 
them all! 

Nevertheless, although both PoUy and 


216 


IN AFTER YEARS 


Bobbin were unconscious, neither of them 
was seriously burned. Yet MoUie was 
dreadfully disturbed. Polly had come to 
visit them on account of her health, and 
there was no way of foretelling what effect 
this night^s experience might have upon her. 
Here she was in her night dress, outdoors 
in the cold, when the rest of them were 
warmly clothed. 

However, in another moment Polly was 
comfortably wrapped in a long coat and 
carried to the nearest house of one of the 
farm assistants. Bobbin too was equally 
well looked after, and as soon as she had 
been in the fresh air for a few moments 
the girhs breath had come back to her and 
she was soon almost herself again. 

Yet by this time all the women and 
children had grown tired, for there was 
nothing that they could do. Five minutes 
before, MoUie^s two boys and little girl and 
nurse had been taken away and put to bed 
by one of the farmer^s wives. Moreover, 
real assistance was arriving at last. 

In the excitement some one had been 
intelligent enough to get to the telephone 
in the dining room before the fire had crept 


THE DISCOVERY 


217 


in that direction. The town of Woodford 
had promised to send help. Even now the 
volunteer fire department of the village 
with an engine and hose carriage was 
trampling over the snow-covered lawns of 
the old Webster homestead. 

A quarter of an hour later a physician 
appeared and also Betty and Anthony 
Graham. Afterwards actually there were 
dozens of MoUie’s and Billyhs friends who 
drove out in their motor cars to take the 
family home with them, or to do whatever 
was possible for their relief and comfort. 

By this time the fire in the old house 
had been vanquished and the earth was 
filled with the cold grayness of approaching 
dawn. 

MoUie would see no one but Betty, who 
stayed on with her and the physician in the 
room given up to Polly. Mrs. Wharton had 
been persuaded not to come, and Anthony 
Graham had gone back to town to make 
things clear to her. 

^Ht is just like Polly to be such a ridic- 
ulously long time in coming to herself,’^ 
Betty explained to her frightened friend, 
don’t think it means anything in the 


218 


IN AFTER YEARS 


least alarming/^ Yet all the time she was 
wishing that the physician who held Polly’s 
thin wrist, counting her pulse, would not 
look so deadly serious. 

However, no matter what she might fear 
herself, MoUie must be strengthened and 
comforted. Her nerves had given way 
under the recent strain and fright. It was 
almost impossible for her to keep her teeth 
from chattering and she was unable to 
stand up. Notwithstanding, nothing would 
persuade her to leave her sister’s room. 

^^For if anything serious is the matter 
with Polly, of course if wiU be my fault and 
I shall never forgive myseK,” she would 
repeat over and over. ^^You see, I forgot 
Polly; it was only Bobbin who remem- 
bered.” 

Finally, however, there was a sign from 
the doctor by Polly’s bedside which Betty 
managed to intercept. Without a word to 
Mollie she slipped across the room to find 
Polly’s eyes wide open and staring in per- 
plexity at her. 

^^What on earth has happened, Betty?” 
she demanded impatiently, although her 
voice was so faint it was difficult to hear. 


THE DISCOVERY 


219 


'^What are you and Mollie and I doing in 
a room I never saw before, with me feeling 
as if I had been out of the world and then 
gotten only half-way back into it again?’^ 

At the sound of her sister’s voice 
Mollie had also moved toward the bed. 
She was distressingly white, her soft blue 
eyes had dark circles around them and 
she seemed utterly spent and exhausted. 

Quickly Polly reached out her weak hand. 

^^What is it, Mollie Mavourneen?” she 
asked nervously, using the name of their 
childhood. 

Then before either woman replied : “ Oh, 
I remember,” she said faintly. There 
was a dreadful lot of smoke in my room and 
I got to the door somehow. Bobbin was 
there and I can’t recall anything else.” 

This time Polly’s fingers clung tightly. 

Was any one injured? Was your lovely 
house burned down?” she inquired. 

But Mollie could only shake her head, 
while the tears ran slowly down her soft 
cheeks. 

However, Betty spoke reassuringly. 
is all right, Polly dear. No one is in the 
least hurt. We were afraid for a while 


220 


IN AFTER YEARS 


you had been stifled by the smoke, but you 
are perfectly well now. And Billy says 
the house has been saved. Of course, it 
has been a good deal damaged inside, but 
that can soon be restored.’^ 

Polly smiled. ^^Then for goodness sake 
do put MoUie to bed! She looks like a 
ghost and I am terribly sleepy myself. 
I have been ever since eight o’clock last 
night and I’ve no doubt it is now nearly 
morning.” 

Yet, as her sister and friend were tip- 
toeing softly away, Polly beckoned Betty 
to come back to her. 

Bobbin saved my life, didn’t she?” she 
inquired gently. ^^I don’t think I should 
ever have gotten down that dreadful smoke- 
fiUed hall except for her.” 

Silently Betty nodded; for the moment 
she did not feel able to speak, because the 
story of Bobbin’s courage and devotion had 
touched her very deeply. 

^^It is like bread cast upon the waters, 
isn’t it?” Polly murmured faintly. ^^It 
returns to one buttered.” 


CHAPTER XXI 


Once More in Concord 

B ut as Polly did not immediately 
recover from the shock and exposure 
of the fire, Betty Graham did not 
return home with her family to Concord. 

Anthony took the nurse and children and 
Faith Barton accompanied them, in order 
to keep Angelique from being lonely, she 
explained. However, her real desire, of 
course, was to be able to see as much as 
possible of Kenneth Helm. 

Nevertheless, the carrying on of her 
romance with the same secrecy as she had 
first observed was not so easy now, nor did 
it seem to Faith so desirable as in the 
beginning. Yet Kenneth still implored 
her to say nothing for a short while longer. 
In a few weeks perhaps things would be all 
right with him, so that he would have 
sufficient money not to worry, over the 
future. Then, of course, they could explain 
the reason for their silence. In the mean- 
( 221 ) 


222 


IN AFTER YEARS 


time, however, perhaps they had best be a 
little more careful, for people were noticing 
their intimacy and beginning to talk. 
Indeed, Faith’s chief difficulty was that her 
foster parents, Rose and Doctor Barton, 
had observed her marked interest in 
Kenneth Helm during his Christmas visit 
with them and had asked Faith if there was 
anything between them. 

Naturally this placed the girl in a pain- 
fully trying position. She was devotedly 
fond of both Rose and Doctor Barton, who 
were in reality not old enough to be her 
parents, although they had always treated 
her like an adored child, giving in to most 
of her whims and wishes. But while Faith 
was selfish and considered her own dreams 
and desires of the utmost importance, she 
was neither ungrateful nor unloving, nor 
fond of deceiving the people for wKom she 
cared. The trouble was that she was too 
much under Kenneth Helm’s influence, else 
she would never have consented to keeping 
their engagement a secret. 

Faith was not aware of the fact, but in 
reality it was Kenneth who had made the 
concealment of their affection for each other 


ONCE MORE IN CONCORD 223 


appear romantic and alluring to her eyes. 
Often she had longed to confide the news 
to Betty after Angel had proved so unex- 
pectedly unsympathetic. However, having 
given her word to Kenneth, she felt in duty 
bound to keep it, and moreover she was the 
least bit afraid of him. 

The real truth of the matter was that 
Faith Barton was more in love with Kenneth 
than he was with her. Not that Faith was 
unattractive, but because Kenneth was 
incapable of caring a great deal for any one 
except himself. 

In the beginning he had been greatly 
interested, for Faith was pretty and full 
of a great many amusing ideas and ideals. 
Moreover, at the time she was a favored 
member of Governor Graham^s family and 
might turn out to be useful. But Kenneth 
had no actual desire to marry any one for 
the present and had not at first taken their 
engagement seriously. Recently, however, 
discovering that Faith was desperately in 
earnest and that she might at any moment 
announce the fact to her family and friends, 
the young man had been extremely un- 
comfortable. More than once he had 


224 


IN AFTER YEARS 


reproached himself for not having made a 
friend of Angelique instead of Faith. She 
was not nearly so pretty, but she was 
cleverer and she might have been more 
helpful. 

Indeed, Kenneth rather admired the 
fashion in which Angel had kept her word 
with him and had not reported the fact 
of his presence in the Governor's study on 
the night of the Inaugural Ball. Besides 
she had never referred to his accusation 
against her, so there was no doubt that 
the little French girl was a true sport, 
whatever else she might be. 

Moreover, when Governor Graham and 
his family returned to the Governor's 
mansion it was plain enough that Angel 
must have enjoyed some good fortune in 
their absence. She seemed to have cast 
off her embarrassment and chagrin over the 
suspicion which had rested upon her, and 
no one had ever seen her so happy or so 
gay. 

Before little Bettina had been at home 
five minutes she and Angelique had vanished 
up-stairs together and were soon locked 
fast in the big nursery. 


ONCE MORE IN CONCORD 225 


Then Angel straightway drew a large en- 
velope out of her pocket and began waving 
it before Bettina’s astonished eyes. Natu- 
rally the little girl had no idea that a letter 
could be so very important, not even so 
large a one as Angehs. 

An instant later and she was the more 
mystified, for her companion had slipped 
a long, rather narrow piece of paper, with 
queer scrawls written upon it, out of the 
envelope and was also holding it up for her 
audience to admire. 

Bettina smiled politely although a trifle 
wistfully. It was hard luck not being able 
to read anything except printed letters 
when one was as old as six. However, her 
mother and father did not wish her to 
become a student too early in life. 

^Ht is a very nice letter, Angel, if it makes 
you so glad,” Bettina remarked gently; 
^^only there does not seem to be a great deal 
of writing on it.” 

Then the older girl threw her arm about 
her little friend’s neck and hugged her close. 

^^Of course you don’t understand, darling, 
and it’s hateful of me to tease you,” she 
protested. ^'But that piece of paper is a 


15 


226 


IN AFTER YEARS 


check; it represents two hundred whole 
dollars, the most money I have ever had 
at once in my life. And do you know how 
I got it? Our little picture of ^Snow 
White and Rose Red’ received the prize 
in the magazine contest. I had a letter, 
too, saying that though it was not the best 
drawing, it was the loveliest little girl. 
So you see it was really all because of you, 
Bettina, that I got the prize!” 

Then Angel did another mysterious thing. 
She made Bettina close her eyes very tight 
and while they were closed she clasped 
something around her neck which fastened 
with a tiny click. Then on opening them 
the little girl discovered a shining gold 
heart outside her white dress, and in the 
center of the heart a small, clear stone that 
glittered like a star. 

got it for you; it is your Christmas 
present from me, Bettina,” Angel explained. 
^^And I want you to try and keep it always 
so that you may not forget ^Snow WThiite 
and Rose Red.’ Only please don’t tell 
any one of my having gotten the prize until 
your mother comes home; I want her to 
know first.” 


ONCE MORE IN CONCORD 227 


Naturally Bettina promised and having 
promised she was not a child who ever 
broke her word. Perhaps the request was 
an unfortunate one under the circumstances, 
and yet how could Angel ever have imagined 
such a possibility? 

A few days later, coming into his wife^s 
private sitting room, which was next her 
bedroom, quite by accident Governor 
Graham happened to catch sight of a 
beautiful new silver bowl which he did not 
recall having seen before. Then besides 
its newness it had a card lying inside which 
attracted his attention. 

^^Some one has sent Betty a Christmas 
gift which she probably knows nothing of,’^ 
Anthony thought carelessly. must 

write and tell her of it.’’ Casually he 
picked up the card and saw Angelique 
Martins’ name engraved upon it. 

The next moment he looked at the bowl 
more attentively. Of course he knew very 
little of these matters, yet this present struck 
him as being an exceedingly expensive one 
from a girl in Angelique’s position. She 
received a very small salary for her work 
and she must have many needs of her own. 


228 


IN AFTER YEARS 


Then Governor Graham frowned un- 
easily, for he had suddenly remembered that 
Bettina had exhibited a beautiful little 
gold chain and necklace which her adored 
Angel had recently given her. How had 
the girl acquired so much money all at 
once? Really he preferred not to have to 
consider such a question, and yet it might 
possibly become his duty. 

Sitting down in front of the fire, Anthony 
tried to forget his annoyances in smoking 
a cigar, but found it impossible. 

The close of the Christmas holidays had 
not made his responsibilities less; indeed, 
they were crowding more thickly upon him. 
The lost papers had not been found and in 
another week ex-Govemor Peyton, Jack 
Emmet and John Everett would have their 
bill before the Legislature. They had 
many friends and unless he were able to 
prove their dishonesty the bill might be 
passed in spite of the Governor’s objections. 

Finally Anthony glanced toward the 
mantel-piece where by chance his eyes 
rested upon a photograph of Betty. 

Immediately his expression changed. 
shall write Betty of this whole business 


ONCE MORE IN ^CONCORD 229 

tonight/’ he announced out loud, in his 
determination. have been an utter 

idiot to have kept the situation from her for 
so long a time. I have wondered recently 
if perhaps she was not quite so fond of me 
because I was taking her less into my 
confidence? Goodness knows, that is the 
only sensible thing for a man and wife to 
do! Besides, Betty seemed more like her 
old seK when we were in Woodford and so 
perhaps I can make her understand how I 
hate to seem hard on her old friends. But 
in any case this suspicion that Kenneth 
Helm has fastened in my mind against 
Angel must be looked into by Betty. 
Angel is a young girl and Betty has been 
like her older sister. Whatever she has 
done, I don’t know that I would have the 
courage to disgrace her, but perhaps Betty 
may be able to persuade the child to return 
the letters to us if she has taken them. 
Heigh-ho! It will be a relief to me at least 
to have the Princess take hold of this 
situation for me.” 

And Governor Graham spent the entire 
evening in his sitting room writing to his 
wife until after midnight. 


CHAPTER XXII 


Things Are Cleared Up 

Polly was a little better, immediately 
upon receipt of her husband’s letter 
^ Betty hurried home. 

First she and Anthony had a long talk 
together until things were once more quite 
clear and happy between them. 

Of course Anthony insisted that he had 
been unreasonable and that Betty was a 
Counsel of Perfection” just as he had 
always believed her; nevertheless the Prin- 
cess was by no means ready to agree with 
him; nor w^as Polly’s little sermon in 
Sunrise Cabin ever entirely forgotten. 

Naturally Betty was grieved to hear that 
Anthony considered her old friend, John 
Everett, and also Meg’s husband. Jack 
Emmet, dishonest; yet when he had care- 
fully explained all his reasons for thinking 
so, she was finally convinced. 

Not for a single instant, however, would 
she consider the bare possibility of Ange- 

( 230 ) 


THINGS ARE CLEARED UP 231 


lique Martins’ having had anything to do 
with the loss of the Governor’s important 
letters. She had known Angel too long 
and too well and trusted her entirely. 
Besides, she had been one of her own Camp 
Fire girls who had kept the Camp Fire laws 
and gained its not easily acquired honors. 

So Betty Graham did the only intelligent 
thing in all such difficulties and suspicions — 
she went directly to Angel and told her that 
she believed in her, but asked that they 
might discuss the whole matter. She even 
told her that she and Governor Graham had 
both wondered at her having a sum of 
money which she could scarcely have 
earned through her work. 

The woman and the girl were in Betty’s 
pretty sitting room when they had their 
long talk. It was their first meeting with- 
out other people being present since Mrs. 
Graham’s return. And Angel sat on a 
little stool at her friend’s feet with her dark 
eyes gazing directly into those of her dear- 
est friend. 

It was good to have this opportunity for 
confidences. Angel breathed a sigh of 
relief when she learned that the Governor 


232 


IN AFTER YEARS 


had confessed his own suspicion to his 
wife. For she had never a moment’s fear 
that Betty might fail in faith toward her. 
Of course, she had never seen the missing 
letters and had no idea what could have 
become of them. 

Perhaps it was curious, yet not even to 
the Governor’s wife did Angelique during 
this interview speak of her own distrust of 
Kenneth Helm. She was hardly conscious 
of the exact reasons for her reticence, except 
she had no possible proof against Kenneth, 
and Betty and the Governor were both 
fond of him. Moreover, it seemed a dis- 
loyalty to Faith Barton to suspect the 
man to whom Faith had given her affection. 

But Angel was very happy to explain 
where she had acquired her recent wealth 
and Betty was as happy and proud as only 
Betty Graham could be of her friends’ 
good fortunes. She could hardly wait to 
see the picture, of course, and registered 
an unspoken vow that Angel should have 
art lessons when she had so much tal- 
ent, no matter how much the girl herself 
might oppose the idea. Certainly she and 
Anthony would owe this much to their 


THINGS ARE CLEARED UP 233 

little friend for even the faintest doubt of 
her. 

But Angel had other information which 
she was even more shy in confessing. It 
did not amount to very much at present, 
only she and Horace Everett had taken a 
great fancy to each other during Horace’s 
stay in Concord for the Christmas holidays. 
She had seen him nearly every day and 
Horace had made no secret of his liking for 
her. He had not exactly proposed, but had 
told her that he meant to as soon as he had 
known her long enough to make it proper. 

It was all very beautiful and unexpected 
to Angelique, for she had seldom dreamed 
of any one’s caring for her in just this 
particular way. And that it should be so 
splendid a person as Horace Everett made 
everything more wonderful. Of course, 
Angel could not be so unhappy as she had 
been before Christmas; nevertheless, for 
Betty’s and Governor Graham’s sake she 
felt that the mystery of the lost letters 
must be cleared up within the next few 
days. 

There was only one piece of information, 
however, which Betty had given her that 
offered any possible clue to the enigma. 


234 


IN AFTER YEARS 


Governor Graham believed that whoever 
had taken the letters had probably sold 
them to the three men who would most 
profit by their disappearance. 

Yet Angel had no experience in the work 
of a detective and could only hope to be 
of use, without the faintest idea of how she 
might manage it. 

There was one thing, however, which 
Angelique regarded as her absolute duty 
after her own talk with Betty Graham. 
She simply must endeavor to be better 
friends with Faith Barton. For somehow 
Betty’s faith and affection for her had 
served to remind her of her almost forgotten 
Camp Fire loyalties. 

Kinder than any one else except Betty, 
Faith had certainly been to her long ago, 
when she had first come, ill and a stranger, 
to Sunrise Cabin. Besides, what had Faith 
ever done except be a little selfish and 
imreasonable of late, and Angel knew that 
she was troubled by her own affairs? 

It was only a few nights after her own 
interview with Betty, when one evening 
immediately after dinner, Angel went up 
alone to Faith’s room for the first time since 


THINGS ARE CLEARED UP 235 


their misunderstanding. She did not know 
whether Faith would care to see her, but 
she meant to try. For Faith had not dined 
with the rest of the family; she had sent 
down word that she had a headache and 
desired to be left alone. 

Nevertheless, when she discovered who it 
was who was knocking at her door, she 
grudgingly said, ^^Come in.^’ 

The truth was that Faith was unhappy 
and needed consolation. She had never had 
any trouble in her life before without some 
one to comfort her, and now possibly Angel 
was the only person who could be of service, 
since Angel alone knew her secret. 

Faith was sitting up in bed looking very 
pretty in a pale blue cashmere dressing 
gown with a cap of white muslin and lace 
on her fair hair. Yet she had plainly been 
crying, for her eyes and nose were both a 
little red. Moreover, she had eaten no 
dinner, as a tray of food sat untouched on a 
small table close beside her. 

So AngeFs first effort was quietly to per- 
suade Faith to have something to eat. 
Then she led her to talking of Woodford 
and the Christmas with Rose and Doctor 


236 IN AFTER YEARS 


Barton. And within a few moments Faith 
was again in tears. 

It could not be very wrong, she then 
decided, to confide what was worrying her 
to so insignificant a person as Angel. 
Surely even Kenneth could not resent this! 

So Faith revealed the fact that she had 
recently received a letter from Rose Barton 
and that Rose had asked her again if she 
felt any unusual interest in Kenneth Helm. 
Rose had been very kind and had said more 
than once that she did not wish to force 
Faith’s confidence. Only she cared for her 
and her happiness so much that she hoped 
Faith would keep no secret of this kind 
from her. 

And Faith had gone immediately with 
this letter to Kenneth Helm, begging him 
that she at least be allowed to confess their 
engagement to the two friends who had been 
almost more than a father and mother to 
her. 

However, Kenneth had absolutely and 
flatly refused and Faith could not make up 
her mind what she should do. 

Without a word or a sign Angelique 
heard the entire story through, although 


THINGS ARE CLEARED UP 237 


she was secretly raging with indignation 
against Kenneth and wondering how Faith 
could possibly be so much under his in- 
fluence that she seemed to have no mind 
or will of her own. 

Moreover, even after Faith had ended 
her story and sat evidently waiting for some 
comment from her companion, Angel could 
think of nothing to say that would be 
sufficiently circumspect. For if she even 
so much as breathed a word against Kenneth, 
Faith would probably be exceedingly angry 
and rally to his defence at once. So the 
little French girl sat motionless on the side 
of the bed, staring rather stupidly at the 
waU opposite her. 

By and by, however. Faith leaned over 
and put her arms about her. 

^^Tell me, Angel, just what you would 
do if you were in my place?^^ the girl pleaded. 

Really, I am so miserable I can^t decide.^’ 

Angel looked at her earnestly. ^^Do you 
reaUy mean that?” she queried. And when 
Faith bowed her head, she answered deci- 
sively: 

if I were you, I should simply 
write to Kenneth Helm tonight and say to 


238 


IN AFTER YEARS 


him that he was either to allow you to tell 
Rose and Doctor Barton of your engage- 
ment or else you would consider your 
engagement broken/’ 

Faith caught her breath and then her 
cheeks flushed. 

Would you mind getting me some 
paper and the pen and ink out of my desk?” 
she returned quietly. 

And Angel, almost dazed by the quickness 
with which the other girl had accepted her 
suggestion, at once walked over to her desk. 
But the drawer of the desk which contained 
the paper had stuck and as she had only one 
hand (the other held her cane) she had to 
tug and tug at it before it would come 
loose. 

Then of course it behaved in the usual 
fashion. For suddenly the entire drawer 
plunged forward and every single thing it 
contained scattered over the floor. There 
were letters and papers and ribbons and 
photographs and pens and pencils and 
powder puffs. 

^^Oh, I am so sorry. Faith dear! I am 
the most awkward person in the whole 
world,” Angel apologized. ^^But if you’ll 



She Spbang Out op Bed Herself the Next Moment 



240 


IN AFTER YEARS 


just forgive me I’U clear up in half a 
minute.’^ 

Faith smiled a little restlessly as her 
friend stooped to her task. 

However, she sprang out of bed herself 
the next moment, for Angel had picked up a 
package from the floor which had a blue 
paper and a rubber band about it and was 
also marked with the Governor’s ofl&cial 
seal. 

Faith tried to jerk the letters from her 
friend’s hand. 

^^Put those down at once, Angel!” she 
commanded angrily. ^^Why don’t you 
do as I tell you? Those papers are not 
mine; I am keeping them for Kenneth 
Hehn. He told me they were of the most 
private nature possible and that no one was 
to be allowed to see them.” 

However, even after this stern injunction, 
the French girl did not give up the package 
of letters. Instead, without Faith’s being 
aware of her intention, she kept edging 
nearer and nearer toward the door which 
led into the hall and so farther along to 
Betty’s and Governor Graham’s rooms. 
She remembered that they had also gone 


THINGS ARE CLEARED UP 241 


up-stairs together after dinner. And her 
hope was that they had not yet left the 
house. 

Then suddenly she turned, and running 
faster than she ever had since her lameness 
she got out of Faith’s bedroom and was on 
her way to her desired destination. 

Moreover, for the moment Faith made no 
effort to follow her, for she believed Angel 
to have lost her senses. 

Why should she desire to run away with 
Kenneth Helm’s private papers? Faith 
could even now hear Angel’s cane tapping 
its way rapidly along the hall. 

Then she ran to the door and stuck her 
head out, calling the other girl to return. 
She didn’t quite dare follow her, for she 
had on only her night-dress and dressing 
gown and the servants or Governor Graham 
might probably see her. 

For another half hour Faith had to 
remain in anger and suspense. Of course, 
she dressed as quickly as possible and 
went to Angel’s room, but Angel was not 
there, neither could she be discovered in 
either of the children’s nurseries or in 
any room on the ground floor. 


16 


242 


IN AFTER YEARS 


At last in desperation Faith knocked on 
Mrs. Graham’s sitting room door. It was 
Betty herself who answered the knock, 
although Faith caught a glimpse of An- 
gelique Martins standing with the Gover- 
nor under a rose-colored electric light and 
thought they both looked unusually cheer- 
ful. 

Moreover, it was Betty and not Angel 
who returned to the bedroom with Faith. 

Just as carefully and as kindly as she 
could Betty then explained the importance 
of Angel’s discovery to her guest. She 
said that it was very hard indeed for them 
to believe that Kenneth Helm had stolen 
these letters, since Governor Graham had 
felt every confidence in him. However, 
if Faith declared that Kenneth had given 
her the letters for safe-keeping, there was 
nothing else for them to believe. He must 
have demanded a larger sum of money for 
the papers than the other men were willing 
to pay him. Therefore, it had evidently 
been his intention to keep them until the 
last moment in order to accomplish his end. 

Of course, this statement of Betty 
Graham’s at the time was only a surmise 


THINGS ARE CLEARED UP 243 


on the part of her husband, notwithstanding 
it turned out to be the correct one. 

For Kenneth Helm finally confessed the 
truth himself in the face of the evidence 
which Governor Graham held against him. 
His only excuse was the dangerous and 
disastrous one that he had longed to grow 
rich sooner than he could with the every- 
day grind of a business career. 

So, after all. Faith Barton wrote her letter 
on the same evening she had intended. 
Betty’s and Angel’s and Governor Graham’s 
suspicions of Kenneth, besides the facts 
themselves, were more than enough to 
convince her judgment, especially when her 
heart had been having its own misgivings 
for some time past. 

It was in entire meekness of spirit and 
yet in thanksgiving that Faith Barton 
decided upon breaking off her engagement, 
which she was glad never to have acknowl- 
edged to any one save Angelique Martins. 
Angel, she knew, would never betray her. 
Nevertheless, before Faith had] been at 
home twenty-four hours she had confessed 
the entire story to Rose Barton and together 
they had wept over her fortunate escape. 


CHAPTER XXIII 


Finis 

P OLLY O’NEILL was on her sister’s 
front porch reading a letter from 
Doctor Sylvia Wharton. It was now 
spring time. 

Sylvia had VTitten that Bobbin was 
getting on at school in the most amazing 
fashion. Not only could she now pro- 
nounce PoUy’s name but hundreds of others, 
and she could certainly hear better than she 
had several months before. 

^ Nevertheless, Polly let the letter slide 
out of her hand and the tears came to her 
eyes. She was not sad, however, only so 
extremely glad for Bobbin’s sake and 
for her own. 

After aU, perhaps I am not so entirely 
selfish a human being as some persons 
believe me,” she announced to herself with 
a shrug of her shoulders. ^^For at least 
one little girl in this world does not think 
so, and never shall.” 


( 244 ) 


FINIS 


245 


Then Polly closed her eyes and fell to 
dreaming. She was not really asleep, only 
resting. She had had rather a hard 
struggle after Mollie’s fire and her own 
unfortunate part in it. That wretched cold 
she had taken settled on her lungs immedi- 
ately afterwards and she was now only 
strong enough to lead an ordinary existence. 
There was no thought of her acting again 
until the next fall. 

She was not yet feeling particularly 
vigorous, so now although she plainly 
heard the sound of a man^s footsteps 
approaching the veranda, she made no 
effort to open her eyes. It was probably 
Billy or one of his farm men. If a question 
should be asked of her then would come the 
time for answering it. 

Nevertheless, she had not expected that 
the man would walk deliberately up to her 
and then stand in front of her without 
saying a word. 

Miss O’Neill felt annoyed and her cheeks 
flamed with the two bright spots of color 
always characteristic of her. Notwith- 
standing, she opened her eyes coldly and 
calmly, haughtily she hoped. 


246 


IN AFTER YEARS 


The intruder did not flinch. He merely 
continued gazing at her and still without 
speaking. 

But PoUy^s flush burned deeper, although 
she also said nothing. 

had to come, Miss Polly,’’ Richard 
Hunt announced at last. 

Polly motioned to a chair near by. 

You were good — to trouble,” she returned 
slowly. ^Ht has been four months since 
I saw you last and asked you to come; and 
since then I have very nearly died.” 

Then she smiled and held out her hand 
with the utmost friendliness. 

Forgive me,” she begged. am glad 
to see you at any time. I am afraid I am 
behaving like the preacher who reproaches 
the members of his congregation for not 
doing their duty and attending service on the 
very Sundays when they have shown up.” 

But Richard Hunt would not be frivolous. 

^^Have you wanted to see me?” he asked 
gravely. 

Polly nodded. 

Then why didn’t you write or have some 
one tell me? I would have come across 
the world if I had known.” he replied. 


FINIS 


247 


In return Polly shrugged her shoulders. 
^^I did everything I could when we were in 
Colorado to persuade you to be friends with 
me again. I behaved without the least 
pride; I almost begged you to be kind to 
me. Of course you were very nice then and 
interested in Bobbin, but I could not go on 
forever pleading for your friendship. Still 
I thought at least when you heard I was ill 
that you might be sorry.’’ 

Then to her own complete chagrin Polly 
felt her eyes filling with tears. 

How big and strong and restful Richard 
Hunt looked! Why had she not had the 
sense to have married him in the days when 
he had cared for her? Somehow she 
believed that her life would have been ever 
so much happier and more satisfying. She 
could have gone on with her work too, 
because no one in the world except Richard 
Hunt had ever understood how much of her 
heart was wrapped up in it — perhaps 
because he was an actor himself and loved 
his own art. 

Notwithstanding, Polly realized that she 
could scarcely cry before her visitor for 
his affection, which she had so deliberately 


248 


IN AFTER YEARS 


thrown away a good many years before. 
Moreover, what would MoUie think of her 
bad manners toward their guest? 

Slowly she got up from her chair. 

^^Do come into the house with me and 
see my sister, Mr. Hunt?’^ she said 
graciously. ^^And you must stay and have 
lunch with us, or even longer if you will. 
I am sure my brother-in-law vdll be more 
than happy to meet you again.’’ 

But Richard Hunt did not stir. Please 
sit down again, PoUy,” he urged more 
gently. ^^You don’t look strong enough 
to be walking about alone. I want to 
explain to you why I have seemed un- 
appreciative of your friendliness. You will 
have to understand this in the future as 
well as now, for possibly after today I shall 
not see you again.” 

^^Oh!” PoUy exclaimed a little huskily, 
and fortunately she could not see how 
white her own face had turned. However, 
at this moment her companion was not 
looking at her. 

can’t be your friend, because I happen 
still to be too much in love with you for 
mere friendship,” Richard Hunt continued 


FINIS 


249 


in the quiet, seh-contained fashion that had 
always made so strong an impression upon 
his companion. ^^I know that I have had 
many years to get over this feeling for you, 
PoUy, and that I should not trouble you by 
mentioning my love again. Only I want 
you to forgive me and to realize why I may 
have seemed not to appreciate your wish 
to be friends.’’ 

But Polly was now smiling through her 
tears and holding out both hands in her 
old irrepressible Irish fashion that neither 
the years nor circumstances could change. 

^^But I don’t want to be just friends with 
you either, Richard, if you are still willing 
for me to be something more after the way 
I have behaved,” she whispered. ^^You 
see I only pretended I wanted to be your 
friend so you would not give me up al- 
together.” 













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